RIYADH/JEDDAH, 25 March 2004 — Expatriates in the Kingdom must help with Saudization efforts, Pakistan Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza has said.
“The Saudi government has set out a phased program to provide employment opportunities for its youth,” Mirza said. “It is fair for the expatriates to give way to the local population without any unnecessary apprehensions over this program,” said the ambassador.
The ambassador was addressing Pakistanis at the mission’s auditorium on Tuesday on the occasion of Pakistan’s national day.
The Kingdom is home to one million Pakistanis and one fifth of the $2.5 billion remittances made by Pakistani overseas workers come from the Kingdom.
The ambassador also read out messages from President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali. He appealed to his countrymen to live here in amity and continue to work for the development of both the Kingdom and their nation.
In the evening, the ambassador hosted a reception at the Riyadh Palace Hotel which was attended by more than 1,000 guests including diplomats, government officials and prominent members of the community.
Riyadh Deputy Governor Prince Sattam, who was the guest of honor at the evening party, cut the cake to mark the occasion.
The deputy governor told the envoy that the Kingdom enjoys age-old relations with Pakistan in political, economic and cultural fields.
Speaking about the significance of the day, the envoy said the day was of historic importance for all Pakistanis. It was on this day in 1940 that the Muslims of the sub-continent finally expressed their resolve and determination to have a separate homeland for themselves.
The resolution was passed at the 27th session of the All India Muslim League at Lahore.
A cultural program by the students from the Pakistani International School in the capital followed the morning ceremony. The variety show highlighted the significance of the day with patriotic songs and cultural dances by children wearing the national costumes of the four provinces in Pakistan.
In Jeddah, Consul General Masood Akhtar hoisted the national flag at the consulate and read out messages from the president and the prime minister.
Akhtar highlighted the importance of the day and urged the community members to remain united. He told them to ignore linguistic, regional, racial and sectarian differences and rally round the spirit of Islam.
In the evening, the consul general hosted a dinner reception at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jeddah.
