30 Pakistanis to perform Umrah as royal guests

ISLAMABAD: Khadim-e-Harmain Sharifain King Salman Abdul Aziz al Saud has sponsored 30 people from Pakistan to perform Umrah during Ramazan as royal guests.

The guests had a farewell meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki here at the Saudi Embassy in the Diplomatic Enclave on Tuesday. The ambassador presented them with souvenirs on the occasion and prayed for their comfortable sojourn to the holy places. The pilgrims will stay in the kingdom for 10 days during which they will visit Makkah and Madinah Munawarah.

Addressing the pilgrims, the ambassador said Saudi Arabia always held Pakistan and its people in high respect as brothers and was keen to see the country and its people prosperous. Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia have been playing a significant role in strengthening the ties between the two brotherly countries and building various gigantic projects.

Al-Maliki announced that at least 100 brothers from Pakistan would proceed for Haj this year as special royal guests of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz who had been inviting Muslims from other parts of the world on the holy occasion. Such people would be picked from all parts of Pakistan. They would stay in the holy land as royal guests and be provided with all facilities.