ISLAMABAD: Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s navies enjoy excellent cordial relations and have been involved in several joint training exercises, Captain Muhammad Akram, Commanding Officer of Pakistan Naval Ship PNS Alamgir, said on Sunday.
He was speaking at a reception dinner in honor of the Saudi naval officers, consul generals, diplomats and members of the Pakistani community, with Commander Ahmed Muhammad Al-Asiri representing the Saudi Royal Forces.
The dinner was hosted onboard PNS Alamgir which docked at Jeddah Islamic Port on Sunday after taking a break from its patrolling duties in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Pakistani consulate in Jeddah said in a statement released on Sunday.
Captain Akram thanked the Saudi government for their excellent hospitality and for allowing all officers to perform Umrah.
“Every Pakistani holds a special place in his heart for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have long, time-tested and mutually supportive relations. The roots of these relations are founded in people to people relationships,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Khalid Majid added that the bilateral ties between the two countries have “expanded in all fields including defense, trade, investment and other sectors of economy.”
On November 25, Pakistan’s Navy Chief, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, had addressed the first Saudi International Maritime Forum in Riyadh during a visit aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation.
The three-day event attended – which was attended by navy chiefs from 13 countries – covered topics ranging from regional maritime security, global threats and opportunities, and future challenges in the maritime industry.
