Pakistan’s army chief performs Umrah

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa performed Umrah on Sunday. (Courtesy Social Media)

• Saudi authorities open the door of Kaaba in display of hospitality
• General Bajwa prays for the well being of his country

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, performed Umrah on Sunday.
According to Pakistan’s state-owned radio and television channels, the door of Kaaba – a cubical shrine that stands in the middle of Makkah’s Grand Mosque – was opened for him by the Saudi authorities in a display of extraordinary hospitality.
The army chief went inside the building that is deeply revered by Muslims across the world and prayed for peace and prosperity for his country.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan also performed pilgrimage along with some of his senior cabinet members.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed cordial relations with each other, but the current administration in Islamabad has strengthened these ties further.
The Kingdom was the first foreign destination of Pakistan’s premier after assuming the top political office of his country.
Saudi Arabia also embraced him with open arms and offered a significant economic package to his administration that was facing a huge balance of payments crisis.