Saudi Ambassador calls on NA Speaker
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—The Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza has said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Saudi Arabia and both the countries have great understanding and unanimity of views on global and regional issues.
She said this while talking to ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Saeed Mohammad al-Awad Assery, who culled on her in the Parliament House on Thursday.
The speaker said that Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were bonded in eternal ties of brotherhood, religion, history and culture.
She said Islam was the religion of peace and tolerance and abhorred all kinds of extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestation.
She said that poverty, illiteracy and unemployment were the root cause of terrorism and extremism and needed to be addressed.
Dr. Fehmida said that new government was confronting many challenges including poverty, unemployment and inflation, adding people were pining great expectations from the government and the parliament and expressed optimism that it will come up to their expectations.
The Ambassador said that a strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan was the desire of the people and government of the Saudi Arabia. He said that the government of Saudi Arabia supported the democratic process and the newly elected government of Pakistan and desired democratic institutions flourish and strengthen in Pakistan.
The Ambassador expressed his government’s desire to further cement the existing ties with Pakistan by enhancing interaction between the leaders and the people of two countries.
He also underlined the need to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, adding that his country always supported Pakistan on regional and global forums.
The Ambassador stressed the need for spreading the true message of Islam through media and eliminating extremism from the Muslim World.
The Speaker appreciated the support and assistance extended by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in various fields of the economy. The Ambassador congratulated the Speaker National Assembly on her election as first woman Speaker of the Muslim World.