Pak envoy, journalists discuss community issues

Author: 
Jeddah: Fouzia Khan
Publication Date: 
Mon, 2012-04-30 02:05

Issues facing overseas Pakistanis, cultural exchanges, vocational training for Pakistani workers and the issue of machine readable passports (MRPs) also figured in the talks. Consul General Abdul Salik Khan was also present at the meeting.
“As Pakistan has a lot to showcase in terms of culture and tradition, I think we have to focus more on cultural exchange. Introducing Pakistani artists in different fields is important to enhance the relations between the two brotherly countries,” said the ambassador. 
He further said the mechanism of investment, interaction between the youth of the two countries, and cooperation in science and technology should be activated. Institutionalization of strategic ties is also important to develop relations between the two countries, he added.
On the issue of MRPs, Khan said that embassy has sent messages to the Pakistan government and the immigration department in Islamabad several times and recommended to extend the deadline to exchange manual passports up to full validity or until 2015. He added that they have also asked for more facilities to issue MRPs and to appoint mobile teams in Riyadh and Jeddah to respond to the needs of the large Pakistani community.
According to embassy sources, at the moment more than 600 passports are issued in Jeddah and Riyadh each day.

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