Pakistani PM congratulates Saudi Arabia on Founding Day, praises kingdom's 'remarkable transformation'

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Royal Palace shows Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (R) welcoming Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on April 30, 2022. (AFP/File)
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  • Saudi Arabia's Founding Day is a new annual holiday to commemorate the founding of the first Saudi state in Arabia
  • The holiday was established with a royal decree issued by King Salman last year through the official Saudi Press Agency

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of its Founding Day and sent wishes to the country's leaders on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.

Wednesday, February 22, marks Saudi Arabia's Founding Day, a new annual holiday that commemorates the founding of the first Saudi state in Arabia.

The holiday was established with a royal decree issued by King Salman last year through the official Saudi Press Agency. It is a different event to Saudi National Day, which is marked on September 22.

“On behalf of [the] people [and]  govt of Pakistan, I wish to extend our felicitations to King Salman bin Abdulaziz, HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [and the] people of Saudi Arabia on their Founding Day,” PM Shehbaz said on Twitter.

He added that the day celebrates the kingdom’s rich history and culture while also highlighting its “remarkable transformation.”

Pakistan enjoys strong political, cultural, economic and defense ties with Saudi Arabia, which is home to more than 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates and a key source of remittances and oil supply to the South Asian nation.