ISLAMABAD, SEPT 25 (DNA) – Defence Minister of Pakistan Pervez Khattak has said Pakistan will protect sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and people of Saudi Arabia at all cost adding Pakistan and KSA are tied in strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship.

The Defence Minister expressed these views while speaking on the occasion of 88th National Day celebrations of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prominent among those who attended the ceremony were Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ch. Fawad Hussain, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Shahbaz Sharif, Raja Zafarul Haq, Chuadhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi, Muhammad Mian Soomro, Sartaj Aziz and Maulana Tahir Ashrafi.

The defence minister further said Saudi Arabia  has always been supportive of Pakistan in all fields. Saudi support has always been forthcoming whenever Pakistan faced hard times.

Pervez Khattak said relations between the two countries would grow further with the each passing day.

Earlier, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to choose Saudi Arabia as the destination of his first official visit abroad after assuming the office reflected the sincere intention of the new government to work with Saudi Arabia and that the Kingdom was Pakistan’s first and foremost strategic ally.

Ambassador Nawaf said Saudi-Pak relations were characterized by its strength and durability as those were deeply rooted since more than seven decades after the independence of Pakistan.

“These historical ties of strategic depth are based on the principle of brotherhood and religion,” he added.

Ambassador Nawaf said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia harbors extreme love and appreciation for Pakistani nation, and similar love and appreciation exchange our brothers in Pakistan, because the Kingdom has a special place in their hearts due to existence of the two Holy Mosques.

“There are more than two and a half million Pakistan brothers living in the Kingdom and contributing in our revitalization and prosperity,” he added.

The Saudi Ambassador along with the guests cut a special cake to mark the national day of Kingdom. A photo exhibition was also organized on the occasion. Traditional Saudi dance was also presented.=DNA

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