True to his wisdom and pragmatism that we find in his articles, Mr. Abdulateef Al-Mulhim rendered an article this time about expatriates in Saudi Arabia, “We bring the expatriates then complain about them,” (Sept. 29)

As an expatriate who spent more than two decades of his prime age here, who participated in the development of this country, whose two children were born here and who knows the streets in Riyadh more than the streets of his own country, I consider Saudi Arabia as my first home and stood by this country in all its difficult and good times.

My children tell me that after their university studies back home, they will come back and work here in Saudi Arabia as they feel they belong to this country, forgetting the fact that they are just “guests” here and ultimately have to leave this place unlike migrants in other countries where they would be allowed to settle down, if they opt for.

But now we often hear that expatriates are responsible for the ills, if any, plaguing the Kingdom. Roughly one-third of the population here is expatriates and more than 80 percent of the work force are foreigners contributing to around $ 700 billion to the GDP. Yet, the “experts” are worried about the remittances expats send to their homes that touch SR 100 billion. They forget the fact that this payment is made only after nourishing the local economy when they meet their needs locally. But the complaint is that the expatriates are draining and straining the local economy; that they are dangerous to the Saudi society and they are adversely influencing the local culture and all that.

Thank you Mr. Mulhim to think positively and differ from others. But I would like to see the item being translated into Arabic press too. (Jay Raj, Riyadh)

Need of a world summit

Great piece by Aijaz Zaka Syed (Islamophobia and the West: No lessons learned, Sept. 28). There is a need of an international summit comprising three sessions: One discussing Western grievances against Muslims, the other Muslims' grievances against West and the third, the solution, with both sides first making offers before making demands from the other. The West must now realize the dangers posed by its hegemonic tendencies, and must know the reality that Muslim world can no longer be bullied. (Dr. Javed Jamil, New Delhi)

Un-Islamic practice by banks

Apropos of your news item, "Banks seizing dormant accounts against Shariah" that appeared on Sept. 30, which says, "Shariah experts on financial matters declare that the local banks are committing a crime by seizing the deposits in accounts that had not been accessed in the past five years.” I would like to add another but bigger crime the banks are committing. That is, they also seize the accounts if someone's Iqama gets expired.

The deposits are strictly amanah under Islamic principles. The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “He does not have faith who does not honor amanah.”

How come the banks take liberty to hold somebody's money under the lame excuse? We know that many bank account holders get late in Iqama renewal because of problems involving sponsors, Labor office or Jawazat's procedure like the Red, Green or Yellow category restrictions etc. Some sponsors demand lots of money to get Iqama renewed. A person who is already under stress due to above-stated reasons, the banks aggravate his woes by seizing his accounts. He is compelled to take loans and pay interest. I request the Shariah experts to take action against such corporate crimes, which go against the spirit of Shariah. (Aleem Khan Falaki, Jeddah)

A welcome step

This refers to the report, “Free school supplies for 63,000 students,” published on Sept. 30. The Ministry of Education's plan to provide free educational supplies to thousands of students all over the Kingdom with an estimated cost of SR 53 million starting from the first semester of the current academic year is excellent and is a welcome step.

The plan in collaboration with the Takaful Charity Foundation, which has identified needy students in the Kingdom is a noble task and hopefully thousands of deserving students will benefit from various schemes announced by the Ministry that include providing school bags, clothing, breakfast, vocational and technical training, particularly in rural areas.

This initiative to help needy students is very important and exemplary. We hope that their efforts would produce a large number of qualified professionals such as academicians and technical and administrative personalities in future. (Zakaria Sultan, Riyadh)