Saudi envoy hosts iftar dinner in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki hosted a grand iftar dinner in a local hotel in Islamabad, where political leaders, federal ministers and elite of twin cities turned up in large numbers.

Federal Ministers Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ataullah Tarar, Senator Musadik Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan, Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Secretary Jehanzaib Khan and Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) Chairman Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq were prominent among the attendees.

In addition, the officials from the Foreign Office were also present. Additional Foreign Secretary Shehryar Akbar Khan, who also attended the gathering, told the newsmen that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar is leaving for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tomorrow (Wednesday) to attend the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) countries that has been convened on Friday (March 7) in the OIC headquarters of Jeddah.

He said that the OIC FM’s meeting will discuss the Gaza situation, particularly in light of the proposals on the relocation of Palestinian people. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also had telephonic interactions with his counterparts from Iran, Egypt, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, who had meeting with Senator Ishaq Dar earlier in the Foreign Office, termed it useful and expressed the hope that Pakistan would play significant role in the slated conference as it has been following sagacious approach in the matter.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also call on Saudi Crown Prince Prime Minister of the Kingdom Muhammad bin Salman Abdul Aziz. He will also have separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Muslim countries on the sidelines of the conference to discuss the issues akin to Ummah and bilateral subjects.