Pakistan president meets Imam of Prophet’s Mosque, calls for ‘greater unity’ among Muslim states

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday stressed the need for “greater unity and cooperation” among Islamic countries, in his meeting with the prayer leader of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, state-run media reported. 
Sheikh Dr. Salah bin Muhammad Al-Budair arrived on a seven-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet top government officials and lead the Friday prayers at the Shah Faisal Mosque in the federal capital.
The Prophet’s Mosque, more popularly known as Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, holds profound historical and spiritual significance in Islam, having been built by the first Muslim community under the supervision of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is also his last resting place, making the imams of this sacred mosque deeply respected across the Muslim world and widely viewed as embodiments of religious devotion and scholarly wisdom.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has underlined the need for greater unity and cooperation among Muslim countries to overcome the challenges being faced by the Muslim Ummah,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said in a report. 
Zardari noted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed excellent relations based on common faith, history, and brotherhood. The president also expressed satisfaction that relations between the two countries were growing stronger, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to further boosting bilateral ties.
“He urged the need for promoting cultural and people-to-people relations to bring the two brotherly countries further closer,” APP said.
Zardari praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, acknowledging the courage and wisdom with which he was spearheading reforms in Saudi Arabia. 
Pakistan has been frequently visited by the prayer leader of the Grand Mosque in Makkah in the past.
These visits, along with high-level official exchanges, have played a significant role in strengthening the relations between the two countries.
Saudi religious scholars, such as the prayer leaders of the two holy mosques, have fostered closer ties between the two countries, with many of them often taking a special interest in Islamic education and religious institutions in Pakistan.
Sheikh Al-Budair is also scheduled to meet prominent Pakistani scholars and visit universities during his stay in the South Asian country.
His stay in the country is also expected to further strengthen religious and cultural connections between the two nations.