Saudi National Day and kingdom’s ‘giant renaissance’ celebrated in grand Pakistan ceremony

Saudi National day was celebrated in a grand ceremony hosted by the Royal embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad on Tuesday, September 24, 2019. (AN photos by Sib Kaifee)

• Strength of Pakistan-Saudi relationship enhanced after crown prince’s visit to Islamabad in February, said Saudi envoy
• Both countries have formed a deep trust, time to enhance strategic ties in trade and investment, said Senate Chairman

Islamabad: The diplomatic mission headed by the Saudi envoy to Pakistan hosted a grand ceremony at a luxury hotel in the capital, Islamabad, to commemorate Saudi national day on Tuesday evening, and called it a celebration of Saudi Arabia’s “giant renaissance” under the guidance of the kingdom’s leadership.
Natively called Youm Al-Watani, the national day is celebrated annually on September 23 to commemorate the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 by its founder, King Abdulaziz bin Saud. A large number of foreign diplomats, Pakistani officials, dignitaries, parliamentarians, journalists, and senior military officials were in attendance.
Saudi envoy Nawaf Saeed Al-Malkiy, said the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had been further strengthened in the last year, and that the visit of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in February, had “enhanced the strength of the relationship between the two brotherly countries.”
During the crown prince’s visit, Saudi Arabia pledged investment deals with Pakistan worth $20 billion, which the crown prince said would bring the historic Muslim allies closer together.
Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, in his address as chief guest, congratulated the Saudi leadership and people and said both countries had formed a deep trust and understanding.
“It is now time to take our historic linkages by developing strategic partnership across the key area of trade and investment, defense and security. We also need to join hands for peace, unity, development across Ummah and to resolve issues in Kashmir and Palestine,” he said. 
During the ceremony, Ardah, the country’s traditional folklore group dance, was performed by Saudi men wielding swords. Guests were given inscribed green scarves with complimenting lapel pins of the Pak-Saudi flag. 
With Saudi Arabia, the greatest source of remittances to the Muslim majority country of 208 million people, special adviser to Prime Minister on media, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, told Arab News on the sidelines of the national day celebrations, that Saudi Arabia was a “second home.”
“Our second home is Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia’s second home is Pakistan,” she said.
A special feast was prepared for guests in attendance, with Saudi delicacies laid out on tables that stretched across the length of the halls and corridors. But the key event of the function was a brief video projection of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s historic relationship.
Pakistan Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, told Arab News: “We are tested friends and whenever the time will come, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will stand together.”
Last week, Khan visited Saudi Arabia in the backdrop of major attacks on two Saudi oil installations and held separate meetings with King Salman and the crown prince reiterating Pakistan’s readiness to stand by Saudi Arabia in case of any threat to the sanctity and security of the two holy cities.
This was Khan’s fourth visit to Saudi Arabia. His last visit was in May 2019 to attend the 14th Session of the OIC Islamic Summit in Makkah and it is expected that he will make a brief visit to Riyadh on his return from New York where he is attending the 74th United Nations General Assembly session.