The establishment of the KAIFCH, which seeks to promote interfaith dialogue and present a true picture of Islam and Muslims around the globe, was discussed at the 43rd meeting of the Shoura Council on Sunday.

Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for launching the charity, adding that it will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of people worldwide. The foundation, he said, would confront the challenges facing the Muslim Ummah, extend aid to needy people and help disseminate Islamic ideals regarding world fraternity, tolerance, peace and justice.

The foundation, according to a report, will promote Islamic values, publish books and magazines on the issue, help those institutions that support poor and underprivileged people and organize conferences and lectures on a range of subjects. “The house was very happy to note that Islamic values, loyalty to homeland, respect for humanity, tolerance, peace, progress and donor spirit are the cornerstones of KAIFCH’s philosophy,” said Al-Asheikh.

The Kingdom has always been on the forefront in terms of extending aid and support to needy people worldwide.

Saudi Arabia, which responded promptly to help people affected by the recent floods in Pakistan, has quietly bypassed the United States as the single largest aid donor in real terms so far.

The Saudi Air Force set up a back-to-back air bridge between the Kingdom and Pakistan, sending some 40 large cargo planes carrying hundreds of tons of relief goods. The air bridge continues to operate.

“Arab donors, predominantly Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, have been among the most generous in the world,” said a World Bank report published this week. “There are good reasons to believe that Arab aid will continue to play an important role in the international development assistance,” it added. Between 1975 and 1987 alone, Saudi developmental aid amounted to $48 billion, second only to the United States.

Referring to the other topics discussed by the Shoura Council, Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, the council’s secretary-general, said that the house approved the reports prepared by its own panels on the two important protocols that were signed during the visit of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to Riyadh in April.

The first agreement endorsed by the two sides seeks to boost commercial ties between Riyadh and Hanoi, while the second relates to cooperation in the filed of oil, gas and minerals.

The Shoura also discussed a few other topics in its first meeting convened after the Eid Al-Fitr holidays. The council discussed a plan to ensure that wheat reserves should be enough to cope with unforeseen circumstances. The council also reviewed a report of the pension fund.