ON the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Day, I consider it appropriate to give a brief account of the significant momentum that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have gained in developing relations since Pakistan Day last year.
During the period, we have tried to provide impetus to the process of improvement in bilateral relations through two tracks. The first track is through further institutionalization of our bilateral cooperation, while the second track is that of increased contacts at the leadership level.
On the first track, we have focused on breathing life into the bilateral Joint Ministerial Commission. It is a forum in which all the important economic and commercial organs in both countries get together and work on increasing cooperation through coordinated action. The two countries' officials held a highly productive meeting of the Commission in September last year in Islamabad. The process set in motion by the meeting will result in increased coordination and cooperation between the concerned officials in a wide range of departments and ministries.
The Joint Ministerial Commission was led by the energetic and dynamic Commerce and Industry Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah, who takes a personal interest in enhancing economic cooperation with Pakistan.
During his visit to Pakistan, he led a large and important business delegation which was able to witness first-hand the vast opportunities that exist for cooperation between the two countries.
Likewise, a delegation of Saudi Food and Drug Authorities undertook a visit to Pakistan in March 2012 initiating a process which will soon result in the licensing of 14 Pakistani food companies in the Kingdom. In line with the strategy to enhance high-level contacts, several visits have been exchanged between the two sides in recent months. Abdul Aziz Khoja, minister of information and culture, visited Islamabad on April 3 last year and held fruitful meetings there. During the visit, we were able to work out several proposals on increasing collaboration between the media houses in our two brotherly countries. Another significant visit was that of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, vice foreign minister, who visited Pakistan on April 10, 2012. During the visit, he called on the president and prime minister of Pakistan and held talks with the foreign minister.
The visit was also significant because the two sides agreed to work out a road map for bilateral relations with special emphasis on institutionalizing the partnership.
From Pakistani side, the prime minister visited the Kingdom twice. During the first visit on July 16, 2012, he was received warmly by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani also visited the Kingdom on April 3, 2012. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar was accorded warm welcome in the Kingdom when she visited Saudi Arabia on Jan. 1-2, 2013 at the invitation of her Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al Faisal. She also called on Crown Prince Salman. During the bilateral consultations between the two dignitaries, attended by Vice Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, Prince Saud termed the bilateral relationship as "solid and historic" and said that the two countries saw "eye to eye" on all issues. The two dignitaries agreed on further steps to institutionalize bilateral cooperation and to translate the brotherly sentiments existing between the two countries into practical cooperation. These visits ensured the continuity of high level of consultations between the leadership of the two sides on matters of mutual interest.
Close collaboration exists between the defense ministries of the two countries. Scores of visits have taken place between different organs of defense establishment during the period under review.
The Haj officials of the two countries also work in close cooperation. Pakistan has one of the largest Haj contingents consisting of 180,000 persons. Haj Minister Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Al-Hajar and his Pakistani counterpart have held several meetings in the past year to better facilitate pilgrims from Pakistan. The two countries took a major step last year when they introduced a new scheme offering cell phone connectivity to pilgrims during the Haj 2012.
Pakistan Embassy realizes that there is vast scope for introducing the rich and colorful Pakistani heritage and culture to the Saudi brethren. With this in mind, we have arranged a number of activities which were equally appreciated by the Saudi and Pakistani communities in the country. A calligraphy exhibition at the embassy was inaugurated by Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of SCTA. The exhibition featured dozens of leading Pakistani calligraphers including Ustad Shafiquzzaman, the chief calligrapher at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The week-long Pakistani Food Festival, inaugurated in June last year by Abdur Rahman Al Jeraisy, then chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Riyadh, was visited by locals who relished the wide variety and delicious taste of the items on offer. Musical events were held with renowned Pakistani flute player Ustad Salamat Hussain and sarangi player Ustad Akhtar Hussain which were widely appreciated as was the qawwali performance by Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammad. Similar events presenting renowned poets Amjad Islam Amjad and Anwar Masood were held.
I am very proud of the role of the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia. Pakistanis are playing a significant part in building the physical and institutional infrastructure of this country. Whoever I meet, whether members of the royal family, Saudi officials or businessmen, I hear an acknowledgment of this fact and good things about the contribution made by the Pakistani community. Whether it is in the field of finance, commerce, medicine, construction or business, our community members have contributed to this country's development with passion and devotion which flow from their commitment to Islam and the Holy Land.
The bilateral process thus continues to intensify. The bilateral cooperation will register further growth in the coming years since the relationship between the two brotherly countries — Pakistan and Saudi Arabia — is based on the lasting bonds between the peoples of the two countries.
Muhammad Naeem Khan is the
ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia
