Saudi Arabia's pioneering role in the Muslim World and its efforts to unite the Ummah were applauded at a function on Wednesday organized by Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) here to celebrate the Kingdom's National Day. Speakers at the function specially praised the long-standing Saudi-Pakistan friendship. “The hearts of both the nations beat together, and the cord that connects them is that of la ilaha illallah (Belief in One Allah),” said Syed Shahabuddin, a PRC member. The PRC leads the Pakistani community in the Kingdom in celebrating Saudi National Day every year. Umar Salem Mihzar Al-Eidrus, a prominent Saudi poet, recited couplets in chaste flowery Urdu that enthralled the audience completely blurring the language barrier line between the two countries. Speakers praised the Kingdom, King Abdullah, and the Saudi people for their special favor to Pakistan when it faced natural and man-made disasters. They specially applauded the Saudi aid for the victims of the recent floods in the country. In his presidential address, Shaikh Muhammad Luqman, a veteran businessman, termed the two countries as “our two eyes”. “A sore in any of the eyes would bleed our heart,” he said assuring the Kingdom of Pakistan's support as and when needed. Earlier, Iftikhar Chowdhury, President of the Society of National Friends, considered the Saudi National Day “as our own national day” and dwelt briefly on the history of special Saudi-Pakistani relationship. “Saudi Arabia has a better grip over the nuances of politics, because serving humanity is the best politics, which democratic nations like Pakistan will take time to understand,” he said. Since the PRC was established on the issue of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh, the issue came to the fore by demanding revival of the Rabita Trust. Hamid Islam Khan in particular went into details of the problem and praised the Saudi government for extending moral support on the issue. Congratulating the Kingdom, Aziz Ahmad, General Secretary of the Pakistan Engineering Society, said that Saudi Arabia's amazing development has been commensurate with its relentless and unparalleled service for the humanity. Ehsanul Haque, PRC General Secretary, read out the resolutions that reiterated old issues like demand for a plebiscite in Kashmir under the UN auspices; restoration of the Rabita Trust, and an appeal to the Bangladesh Government to take care of the stranded Pakistanis till they are repatriated to Pakistan. It also proposed establishment of a high-level Pak-Saudi Commission to “explore avenues of better cooperation between the two countries.” Others who spoke, or recited poems, highlighting the bonds between the two nations included Munir Khawar, Zamurrad Khan Saifi, Maqbulur Rahman Abbasi (of Pak Journalist Forum), Gul Anwar and Abdul Qayyum Waseq.
