Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to expand cooperation in diverse fields: Fawad

–Fawad takes notice of telephone calls using his name

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Friday said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would work together to expand cooperation in diverse fields including media and strengthen the existing warm ties.

Talking to media here during the visit of Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad to Pakistan Television Headquarters, he said, “It is time to expand cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and the two sides will discuss how to move forward on media cooperation.”

He welcomed Saudi Minister Dr Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad on his visit to Pakistan.

Fawad said Pakistan was like a second home for leadership and people of Saudi Arabia. “We have social, cultural and religious ties that go beyond governments and politics. It is people to people contact that the two countries cherish for so long now.”

He said the Saudi minister will have a high profile visit and will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan, cabinet ministers, Chief of Army Staff and will talk about ways to strengthen relations and bring more warmth to the existing ties.

Both the countries were facing the same kind of threats emanating from extremism, he said adding the two sides will work together against extremism.

The Minister said, “We have seen that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman brought in whole new initiatives in Saudi Arabia’s politics and narrative.”

Referring to some important initiatives taken by the Saudi government to bring reforms, he said, “We will benefit from the initiatives and we will take forward the cooperation.” Talking about Vision 2030 of the Saudi government, Fawad said the vision gave a basis to the narrative of the Saudi government.

The Saudi minister said that Pakistan enjoyed a special status in the Muslim world and it was pleasing that Saudi Arabia would further develop its relationship with it during the tenure of the new Pakistani government. He said that Pak-Saudi relations spanning over all segments of life were exemplary.

‘BROTHERLY TIES’:

The minister said that Pakistan enjoyed brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia, based on on mutual trust.

This, he said during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Ahmad Al- Maliki.

The visit of Saudi Information Minister Dr Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad also came under discussion.

The information minister said that the visit of Saudi minister will help enhance bilateral relations in fields of culture and information.

He said the Saudi minister will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan. The delegation, led by Saudi minister, will also meet the National Assembly (NA) speaker, ministers for finance, foreign affairs and information.

MINISTER TAKES NOTICE OF FAKE CALLS:

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Friday took strong notice of the fake telephone calls using his name.

In a statement, the minister took strong exception to the telephonic calls to various institutions by fraudulent elements in various institutors, using his name.

The minister said that the miscreants want to tarnish the image of the present government besides defaming him. He vowed to bring such elements to justice.

He advised the masses and the institutions to beware of such elements and first get confirmation about any telephone call so that they are saved from any fraud.