Saudi Arabia’s Global Harmony Initiative is a ‘unique opportunity’ say Pakistani expatriates

Saudi Arabia’s Global Harmony Initiative is a ‘unique opportunity’ say Pakistani expatriates
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Saudi Arabia earlier unveiled the Global Harmony Initiative, aimed at celebrating the diverse nationalities and cultures of residents. (X: @RiyadhSeason)
Saudi Arabia’s Global Harmony Initiative is a ‘unique opportunity’ say Pakistani expatriates
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Saudi Arabia earlier unveiled the Global Harmony Initiative, aimed at celebrating the diverse nationalities and cultures of residents. (X: @RiyadhSeason)
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Updated 27 October 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s Global Harmony Initiative is a ‘unique opportunity’ say Pakistani expatriates

Saudi Arabia’s Global Harmony Initiative is a ‘unique opportunity’ say Pakistani expatriates
  • Pakistanis are the second-largest expatriate community in the Kingdom

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat in Saudi Arabia and expatriates welcomed and expressed support for the Saudi “Global Harmony Initiative,” saying that it would play a key role in fostering understanding and unity between the diverse communities living in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia last week unveiled the Global Harmony Initiative, which is aimed at celebrating the diverse nationalities and cultures of residents through exploring their lives, contributions and cultural integration.

The initiative, a collaboration between the Quality of Life government program, Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority and the Ministry of Media, will feature events during Riyadh Season showing the cuisines, cultures and heritage of countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and others.

Pakistanis are the second-largest expatriate community in the Kingdom, with more than 2.5 million reportedly living and working in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is the top source of remittances for the South Asian country.

“The Global Harmony Initiative will play an important role in fostering understanding and unity among the diverse expatriate communities in Saudi Arabia,” Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Arab News.

Farooq said the initiative provides a valuable platform, especially for the Pakistani community, to share its rich cultural heritage and highlight its significant contributions to the Kingdom.

“The Global Harmony Initiative is a significant step toward acknowledging the vital role expatriates play in Saudi society,” he added.

He said Pakistanis have a “unique opportunity” to highlight their professional achievements, family values and cultural integration.

Farooq added that the Global Harmony Initiative not only promotes inclusivity but also strengthens the bonds between communities to enhance the overall fabric of Saudi society.

He encouraged Pakistani expatriates to actively participate in the initiative, tell their stories and underline their contributions for a brighter, more harmonious future.

Pakistani expatriates from all walks of life welcomed the initiative, saying it will provide them opportunities to engage with diverse cultures while also promoting their own.

“It is indeed a great initiative, as we will not only experience the diverse cultures of various expatriate communities but also have the chance to introduce the richness of Pakistani culture to others,” Muhammad Naveed, a Pakistani engineer in Riyadh, told Arab News.

He said the initiative would foster stronger ties between expatriates and the Saudi community.

“It is an excellent step forward and we are excited to become part of this during this Riyadh Season,” he said.

Zainab Zahoor, a Pakistani expatriate who lives in Riyadh with her family, described the initiative as a wonderful opportunity for the community to connect and integrate with others.

“As a Pakistani expatriate living in Riyadh, I believe the Global Harmony Initiative allows us to showcase the richness of Pakistani culture while building stronger connections with other expatriate groups and Saudi society,” she told Arab News.

Zahoor said the initiative creates a sense of unity and appreciation among diverse communities.

“It is now up to the Pakistani mission and community to fully utilize this opportunity to showcase our culture and highlight our contributions to Saudi society,” she said.

Muhammad Ahmed, a Pakistani who works for a multinational company in Jeddah, described the initiative as a “vital step” toward fostering mutual understanding.

“Saudi Arabia is home to millions of expatriates from various countries, with significant populations from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh,” Ahmed said.

“These communities can foster deeper connections as they share a common regional background and cultural ties from their home countries.”

He said the platform offers Pakistanis a chance to engage with other communities in the Kingdom so that they can build lasting relationships and promote a spirit of unity.


Support equipment from KSrelief helps Somalis with disabilities

Support equipment from KSrelief helps Somalis with disabilities
Updated 05 December 2024
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Support equipment from KSrelief helps Somalis with disabilities

Support equipment from KSrelief helps Somalis with disabilities
  • The initiative, carried out in partnership with the UN Development Program, is part of the Capacity Development and Empowerment for People with Disabilities project in Somalia

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered a range of support equipment to the Somali National Disability Agency.

The initiative, carried out in partnership with the UN Development Program, is part of the Capacity Development and Empowerment for People with Disabilities project in Somalia which benefits 22,600 people.

The delivery ceremony was attended by the charge d’affaires of the Saudi embassy in Somalia, Mohammed Al-Budairi, and the director of the KSrelief branch in Africa, Yazid bin Abdullah Hamoud. Representing Somalia were Minister of Family and Human Rights Development Bashir Mohamed Jama, members of the Council of Ministers, members of parliament, diplomats and dignitaries.

The project aims to empower people with disabilities by providing access to education, vocational training and employment opportunities that enhance their independence and dignity. It also seeks to integrate them as active contributors to Somali society and strengthen the capacities of government agencies working in this field by offering technical and operational support.


KSrelief ambulances boost Gaza’s health sector amid challenges

KSrelief ambulances boost Gaza’s health sector amid challenges
Updated 05 December 2024
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KSrelief ambulances boost Gaza’s health sector amid challenges

KSrelief ambulances boost Gaza’s health sector amid challenges

RIYADH: The health sector in Gaza has been bolstered by 20 fully equipped ambulances from Saudi aid agency KSrelief, reported Saudi Press Agency.

The move comes as the Strip faces humanitarian challenges and repeated targeting of critical infrastructure, including ambulances and other health services.

The vehicles have significantly helped emergency response capabilities in the area, playing a vital role in treating the wounded and transferring them rapidly to medical centers.


KSrelief volunteers aim to combat blindness in Ivory Coast

KSrelief volunteers aim to combat blindness in Ivory Coast
Updated 05 December 2024
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KSrelief volunteers aim to combat blindness in Ivory Coast

KSrelief volunteers aim to combat blindness in Ivory Coast

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief’s Noor Saudi volunteer project to combat blindness and its causes was implemented in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, last month.

During the campaign, which ran for a week, KSrelief's volunteer medical team examined 4,000 cases, performed 406 specialized eye surgeries, and distributed 1,154 pairs of eyeglasses.

The initiative is one of the humanitarian and relief projects carried out by the aid agency to support the medical sector and assist low-income patients suffering from eye diseases in various countries.


‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list

‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list
Updated 05 December 2024
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‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list

‘Simsimiyya’: Saudi, Egyptian musical instrument joins UNESCO’s intangible heritage list
  • Saudi Arabia supported an Egyptian request to inscribe the Simsimiyya on UNESCO’s list 

RIYADH: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi minister of culture and chairman of the Heritage Preservation Society, has announced the success of including the Simsimiyya musical instrument in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. 

Saudi Arabia supported on Wednesday an Egyptian request to inscribe the Simsimiyya on UNESCO’s list during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Simsimiyya is part of Saudi culture in coastal towns, and is used to play traditional music at weddings and festivals alongside songs narrating stories of sailors and social life near the sea, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The Simsimiyya, which is made from a wooden box or bowl lyre with strings, is also famous in Egypt. 

It is the latest Saudi cultural element to be added to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list. Other elements were Saudi Khawlani coffee beans, the art of engraving on metals, the Harees dish, Arabic calligraphy, and the palm tree. 

Simsimiyya has passed down through the generations in Saudi Arabia and become part of the Kingdom’s artistic identity and collective memory, and is still played at cultural and social events, SPA reported.


AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs

AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs
Updated 05 December 2024
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AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs

AlUla’s breeding center announces birth of three Arabian leopard cubs
  • Arabian Leopard Breeding Center saw the arrival of one female and two male cubs this summer
  • The mother of the cubs, Ward, is six years old, and their father, Baher, is 13 years old

RIYADH: The Saudi Royal Commission for AlUla announced the birth of a rare litter of three Arabian leopard cubs on Wednesday as part of Saudi Arabia’s effort to protect endangered species. 

The triplets, two males and one female, were born at RCU’s Arabian Leopard Breeding Center this summer, which is sponsored by the Arabian Leopard Fund. 

This is the third documented birth of the Arabian leopard in 30 years, and the first in Saudi captivity, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The RCU’s breeding center has been at the forefront of preserving this critically endangered species of big cats. 

One of the center’s missions is to protect and safeguard 30 percent of land and sea habitats for species as part of the Saudi Green Initiative.  

The mother of the Arabian leopard triplets, Ward, is six years old, and their father, Baher, is 13.

Baher was brought to RCU’s center in December 2023 as part of a regional exchange program to enhance the genetic diversity of the Arabian leopard breed. 

The triplets were vaccinated and underwent medical examinations to determine their gender, SPA reported. 

Experts at the RCU’s center said that the two males were showing active behaviors through playing and climbing rocks, while the female appeared calmer and attached to the mother. 

The three of them are expected to stay together with their mother for 18 months.  

The RCU’s breeding center is currently sponsoring the care of 32 leopards. 

In 2024, the center saw the birth of five leopards, following seven births in 2023.