The Madinah Islamic heritage and cultural program, which starts today, attracted two Pakistani officials to visit Saudi Arabia.

Samina Khalid Ghurki, Pakistan minister of national heritage and integration; and Shagufta Jamani, former state minister arrived in the Kingdom on Friday.

“Though we have a very busy schedule in this last government session, we also have very strong cultural and economical relations with Saudi Arabia, so we gladly accepted this invitation by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information,” said Ghurki.

“The already strong relationship between the brotherly countries can still be improved upon. We asked the Saudi ambassador in Pakistan to make a permanent Saudi heritage and cultural pavilion in our International heritage exhibition center, Loak Wirsa, in Islamabad. We consider Saudi Arabia as our second home,” she added.

She also said that the Saudi Minister of Culture and Information, Abdul Aziz Khoja, invited Pakistani artists and people to enhance the cultural exchange between the two countries. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already had two cultural exhibitions where Pakistani artists came and showed their talent.

“Both countries share Islamic heritage and culture, and this visit will strengthen it more,” said Saud A. Al-Sheikhi, general manager at the Makkah branch of the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Aftab Khokhar, Pakistani consul general said, “We will make sure to follow up this cultural exchange. Delegations from Saudi Arabia will visit Pakistan and Pakistani artists will also visit Saudi Arabia.”