The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) on Sunday underscored the strong relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and called for the establishment of a Pak-Saudi Strategic Commission to overcome hurdles in forging a strong and meaningful rapport.

Speaking on the eve of Saudi National Day, PRC Convener Ehsanul Haque said: “It is time to assess our relationship to make it more productive and focus on a pragmatic approach for the benefit of both countries.”

“We come third in terms of remittances after India and Philippines. While we send unskilled labors, key posts and projects in the Kingdom are grabbed by other countries,” Haque said.

Haque said a strategic commission can look into the gradual disappearance of Pakistanis from several important sectors such as the railway and construction sector and come up with bilateral policy issues to overcome obstacles. “If the commission is successful, we will not require the IMF for aid,” he said, adding: “We will be happy with trade and not aid.”

Haque recalled the role played by King Abdullah in helping out Pakistan in times of crisis.

He also congratulated Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and urged him to revive the Rabita Trust, a fund for stranded Pakistanis, which has been frozen since 2002. PRC also demanded solution to the Kashmir issue under the terms laid down by the UN.

Ali Al-Ghamdi, a former Saudi diplomat, said: “This is the first time I celebrate our National Day with the citizens of Pakistan.” He also urged the audience to learn Arabic.

Several speakers of Pakistani origin said they considered the Kingdom their “second home.” Speakers included Choudhry Mohammad Riaz Ghumman, president of the Pak-Saudi Friendship Forum, M. Tayyab Mosani, general-secretary of Memon Association of Saudi Arabia and M. Nawaz Janjua, press and publication secretary at the Pakistan Welfare Society.