ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Saudi Arabia, Lt. Gen. (r) Bilal Akbar, arrived in Riyadh on Sunday to assume new responsibilities.
Akbar, who retired from the military last month, replaces Raja Ali Ejaz, a career diplomat, who has been the ambassador in Riyadh since January 2019.
Prior to his appointment, Akbar had served at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi as chief of general staff, which is considered one of the key positions in the army.
Last week, Akbar met President Arif Alvi who asked him “to make all out efforts toward the exchange of high-level visits” between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The president expressed hope that the retired general would make “concerted efforts for further strengthening bilateral economic and investment cooperation” between the two countries, according to a statement issued by the president’s office.
In a farewell message on Thursday, Ejaz said it was a matter of “great pride” for him to have served Pakistan “on a land of great significance” and thanked the Saudi government for taking care of Pakistani nationals in the kingdom amid a global pandemic.
“I also congratulate the Saudi authorities for managing the COVID-19 pandemic exceptionally well and wish them best for a successful vaccination campaign,” he said in the farewell letter, as he expressed hope the new envoy would further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and continue to protect the interests of the Pakistani community in the kingdom.
“I am handing over the charge of the office in very competent hands of Ambassador-designate Lt. Gen. (Retired) Bilal Akbar,” he said.
