ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday evening highly lauded sustained and time-tested cooperation from Custodian of two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Pakistan.
He was speaking at the farewell dinner hosted by Kingdom's outgoing Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri at his residence. The dinner was also attended by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Nawaz Sharif, several federal ministers, leaders of various political parties, diplomats and leading journalists.
Asseri, being the senior most ambassador, is the doyen of the diplomatic corps in Islamabad. Gilani in his speech also expressed his immense pleasure for the meritorious services rendered by Asseri in promoting Pakistan's friendship with Saudi Arabia from strength to strength.
He said, "our relations with the Kingdom are not merely diplomatic and just friendly. Our relations are based on strong bond of religion of Islam and we are key players within the framework of Islamic Ummah."
Gilani said King Abdullah has always offered cooperation and assistance to Pakistan, specially during the worst calamities like the earthquakes in Azad Kashmir and in Balochistan, where it was the Kingdom and King Abdullah who cared most for the Pakistanis.
He said that there are thousands of skilled Pakistanis working in the Kingdom and sending huge remittances back home. The ambassador, while offering his gratitude, said his stay in Pakistan was like being in his second home.
