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Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Relations
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy excellent bilateral relations. Close geographical proximity, historic trade ties, religious affinity and the complimentary nature of economic needs have created a strong bondage of trust between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In addition, there is a convergence of views and interests of the two countries on most of the regional and international issues.
High-level visits from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reflect the great warmth and depth of bilateral relations. During the last few years, President and Prime Ministers of Pakistan have visited Saudi Arabia at a number of occasions. President Musharraf visited the Kingdom in June 2003 and March 2004. He discussed with the then Crown Prince situation of Iraq and Middle East and other regional and international issues of importance for the two countries. Former Prime Minister Jamali visited the Kingdom in August 2003 and called on Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and held meeting with the Crown Prince. During the year 2004, all the three Prime Ministers visited the Kingdom and held talks with Saudi leadership on wide ranging issues. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited along with a delegation of 19 persons in September 2004. In 2005, the President and the Prime Minister once again paid visits to Saudi Arabia to discuss matters of mutual interest of the two countries.
In August 2005, King Fahd died. President and Prime Minister of Pakistan visited Riyadh to offer their condolences and to meet the next leadership ,i.e., King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Later on President of Pakistan visited Saudi Arabia to attend Extraordinary OIC Summit in Makkah in December 2005.
Successive Saudi leadership has visited Pakistan from time to time. King Saud visited Pakistan in 1954, King Faisal in 1966 and1974 and King Khalid in 1976. Similarly, King Fahd as Crown Prince visited Pakistan in 1980 and King Abdullah went to Pakistan as Crown Prince in 1984, 1997, 1998 and 2003. Recently on his first tour to Asia, the Custodian of two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah included Pakistan as his final destination. During the visit five agreements/MoU encompassing political, economic, educational and scientific –cum - technical cooperation were inked by Pakistan and Saudi officials in the presence of heads of state of two countries. These agreements are bound to enhance bilateral ties in related fields. The two sides also issued a joint statement outlining points of convergence in their political views besides pinpointing activities they want to jointly undertake in future.
Similarly, a number of Saudi dignitaries including federal ministers and governors have visited Pakistan during the last few years.
There was exchange of academics also. A delegation of 17 vice chancellors from different universities of Pakistan visited Saudi Arabia and both the countries agreed to foster collaboration in the field of education and research.
On the Kashmir issue, Saudi Arabia has been more supportive of Pakistan than probably any other country in the world. The Saudi news media, Ulema, NGOs like Rabita and WAMY and the public in general have also been supporting Pakistan on this issue. Similar support was extended in the OIC Ministerial and Summit meetings as well as in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. During the recent visit of King Abdullah to Pakistan the two sides stressed the need for early peaceful settlement of outstanding issues in South Asia including the Kashmir dispute.
In commercial and trade sector, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain good relations and it is further increasing with the passage of time. Pakistan imports oil worth US dollars 2 billion from Saudi Arabia and exports various items worth US dollars 5 hundred million every year. 7th session of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) was held at Islamabad on February 7-10, 2005 and a number of avenues were explored to boost bilateral trade and commercial relations between the two countries.
Recently Saudi authorities have allowed National Bank of Pakistan to open its Branch in the Kingdom. It will help Pakistani expatriates for their prompt remittances as well as Saudi and Pakistani businessmen in their business transactions.
Saudi Arabia government and public were generous to help Pakistan during the recent earthquake that killed around eighty thousand people in Northern Area, NWFP and Kashmir. Saudi Arabia was the biggest donor to the relief fund. Saudi government provided SR. 500 million for rebuilding of some basic structures in earthquake-affected areas. The aid collected through a massive telethon amounted to SR. 450 million while more than SR. 40 million of medical and relief goods were provided by Saudis. Among the countries that established “a bridge” to help the survivors of the earthquake Saudi Arabia was the first.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a large expatriate labour force of about 7.0 million including 2.5 million Saudi and 4.5 million expatriates. Pakistani community comprise of approximately 1 million people. It has enormously contributed in the development of this country. Hence. Pakistani labour force is well respected because of the hard work and sincerity they put in their duty. President Pervez Musharraf during his visit in June 2005 held meetings with Saudi leaders and discussed the possibility of more space for the Pakistani skilled manpower in the Kingdom.
Pakistani Hajj pilgrims comprise one of the largest groups who visit Saudi Arabia every year. Pakistan Hajj Directorate in Jeddah looks after all necessary arrangements of Pakistani pilgrims including those of residences, transportation health care and other matters, in cooperation with the Saudi authorities. In the recent years, the Hajj and Umra pilgrims from Pakistan are on the increase. In 2006 around 150,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj and more than this figure performed Umra and Ziarat last year.
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