Islamabad - The 91st National Day of Saudi Arabia was celebrated in Pakistan in most splendid way on Thursday by reaffirming trust in the able leadership of the two brotherly countries to lead the world with their vision.

Significance of unique relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were highlighted through seminars and symposium held at various places across the country while TV channels and radio e arranged special programmes to highlight brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Speakers called for more solid steps to further enhance Pakistan’s already existing bilateral defence, socio-economic, commercial, cultural and diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.

The relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is indeed a strong one that goes back decades.

While Pakistanis have a special regard for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to its position as the custodian of Islam’s holiest cities, political, economic and military ties are also robust.

Both states also enjoy strong ideological and brotherly ties.

During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has committed to provide $500 million (Rs 75.50 billion) to Pakistan from the Saudi Development Fund for development of infrastructure, water resources and hydropower projects in Pakistan.

Also, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take action over the rising incidents of Islamophobia” in different parts of the world.

More importantly, Saudi Arabia was previously reluctant to support Pakistan on Kashmir issue, however, recently Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud had acknowledged that Kashmir was a disputed territory and stressed that the Kingdom was ready to play its role in resolving the issue as well as easing tensions between Pakistan and India.

Pakistan also reciprocated and stepped up this balancing act by offering and trying to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia last fall.

Moreover, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Saudi Arabia on May 2021 to establish Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council to give strategic direction to bilateral ties.

Pakistan helps Saudi Arabia with military training, defense production and joint military exercises under a bilateral security cooperation agreement.

Pakistan’s former COAS, General Raheel Sharif, is the current head of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, an alliance of 41 states.

Likewise, both states are agreed that international community must step up its engagement in Afghanistan in order to avert humanitarian and refugees crisis.

Analysts believed that Islamabad and Riyadh ought to ponder upon threadbare the sensitive and core issues to supplement each other efforts through collective approach.

They were of the view that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia have strengthened the bilateral socioeconomic, commercial, cultural and diplomatic relations. They also emphasized the dire need for a comprehensive strategic alliance between the two countries by evolving independent economic, military cum political facets to build up relationship.

In related development, while addressing an important seminar on ‘Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Relations: Past, Present and Future’ on Thursday President Dr Arif Alvi said that relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were exemplary at world level and their leadership was capable of leading the world through their vision.

He assured that every Pakistani will be standing with the Saudi Arabia for its safety and security.

Appreciating the Saudi Vision 2030 of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Dr. Arif Alvi said this would be a historical change and turning point for the Islamic country.

The President said that it is unfortunate for the Muslim world that Iraq, Afghanistan and other Muslim countries were targeted on the basis of fake news. He said the Ummah should aware of fake news and prepare for this type of war.

Talking about Pakistan’s efforts for peace in Afghanistan, Dr Arif Alvi said the world is appreciating and acknowledging Pakistan’s support and role in evacuation of foreigners from Kabul after taking over Afghanistan by Taliban.

He said every Pakistani has a special devotion with Saudi Arabia and considers it as second home. He said a large number of Pakistanis are working in different cities of Saudi Arabia and contributing to its development.

Among the ministers and other dignatories who attended the seminar were Federal Ministers Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Pir Nurul Haq Qadri, Special Assistants to PM Allama Tahir Ashrafi and Shabaz Gill, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Saudi Ambasador Nawaf Bin Said Al Maliki.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has also felicitated Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and brotherly people of Saudi Arabia on the Kingdom’s 91st National Day.

In a tweet on Thursday, he said Pakistan wishes Saudi Arabia continued progress under the visionary leadership.