The recent Saudi-Pakistani Friendship Program has brought citizens from the two countries closer together, the organizers said here recently.

The World Muslim Congress (WMC) and Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah organized the program held earlier this month.

Abdullah Omar Naseef, the president of the WMC, and Tanweer Zaman, the director of the WMC in Jeddah, spoke to Arab News about the aims of the event.

Naseef said the program was held to remind people how they can strengthen ties by cooperating with each other. “People were very happy to get together and celebrate their brotherly relationship. We wanted people to get to know each other,” he said.

He said that an Islamic calligraphy exhibition would be held from May 1 to 3 at the Red Sea Mall, in cooperation with the Pakistan consulate in Jeddah, featuring 11 calligraphy artists from Pakistan.

“Since the time of King Abdulaziz, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have had a wonderful relationship. It is time tested. Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan in good and bad times. The organization of this program was overdue,” he said.

Zaman said the program presented a blend of both cultures, including Saudi and Pakistani schoolchildren singing patriotic songs.

“The audience was enthralled by the performances, which was apparent from the continuous cheers and clapping,” he said.

He said it was a challenge organizing the program. “We first had to get the schools to train the participating children to perform in front of a big crowd. We are very glad to say that the children performed with flying colors. The credit goes to their teachers,” he said.

“We are hoping to have this program annually, and rectify our shortcomings. I would like to make it clear that this program was organized by the World Muslim Congress and consulate of Pakistan because many people are using social media to say this was their initiative.”

“I am happy to announce that a Saudi-Pakistan friendship society under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef has already been registered in the UK and will soon be registered in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” Zaman said.

He thanked various people for supporting the event including Aftab Ahmed Khokhar, the Pakistan consul general; Imran Siddique, vice consul general; and Majid Ali Awan, the councilor at the Pakistan consulate.

“We are also indebted to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry for providing the venue for the program.”