Zubair Qureshi
Pakistan values its relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as these are based on common faith and mutual respect.
“Both the brotherly countries have long-standing and deep-rooted fraternal relations which need to be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of the two countries.”
He made these remarks while talking to Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, and President of the International Islamic University (IIU), Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday.
Welcoming the Ambassador and the President of IIUI, President Dr Arif Alvi said both the brotherly countries enjoyed excellent relations and there existed great potential between the two countries to further enhance economic and cultural relations.
He emphasized the need for bilateral exchange at a high level that would bring the two countries further closer.
He expressed the hope that the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia in May 2021 and the Saudi Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan in July 2021 would further boost bilateral cooperation.
The president thanked the Saudi government for providing financial support to Pakistan that helped rescue the country from financial problems.
Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi briefed the president about the new strategic plan of the University aiming to improve governance and quality of education.
He informed the president that the university was establishing a new department to provide distance learning to students.
The president also discussed the recently-formulated policy by the HEC focusing on prevention of Drug and Tobacco abuse in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
He said the policy would help prevent drug abuse in universities and provide a healthy and enabling environment to students.
Appreciating the policy to facilitate the Students with Disabilities (SwDs), the President mentioned that it provided a waiver to SwDs from all institutional charges, including tuition fee, hostel fee and utilities bills.
He expressed the hope that the initiative taken by the HEC would help encourage the students with disabilities to continue their higher studies as well as eradicate the menace of drug abuse from the HEIs.
