By Waqar Naseem Wamiq
RIYADH — Prominent Pakistani businessmen Sheikh Saeed Ahmed and Chaudhary Sajjad Ali of PML(N) hosted a farewell dinner in honor of outgoing Pakistani Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq at Pak house restaurant recently.
A number of prominent Pakistanis, embassy officials, ladies and gents were present at the largely attended farewell ceremony. President National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony and Vice President PML(N) Sheikh Saeed presided over the farewell ceremony.
Outgoing Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq and Charge de’ Affaires Hassan Wazir were the chief guests and Dr. Mujahid from Pakistan was the special guest on the occasion. The ceremony was ably conducted by Dr. Saeed Ahmed Waince and Muhammad Asghar Chishti respectively. Maulana Aziz ur Rehman Durrani recited verses from the Holy Qur’an and Asghar Chishti presented a Naat.
Rashid Mahmood Butt, SVP PML(N), commended the efforts of Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq to strengthen bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries as well as working for the betterment of the Pakistani community residing in Saudi Arabia.
Waqar Wamiq presented a rich poetic tribute to the envoy that was highly appreciated by the audience. Famous Naat reciter and General Secretary PML(N) Asghar Chishti also presented some couplets of Mian Muhammad Baksh and Baba Bulleh Shah in his soulful voice.
Ambassador Haq expressed his sincere thanks to the hosts and appreciated the contributions of Pakistani community. He urged Pakistanis to continue promoting the soft image of Pakistan and follow the rules and regulations of the host country.
“We have brotherly relations and excellent bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is dynamically progressing and on the road of prosperity with the exemplary CPEC project,” he said.
The envoy sympathized with the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, stating, “Terrorists are on the run now, the Operation Zarb-e-Azb has dismantled their network and their end is near,” he said.
Chaudhary Sajjad Ali highly praised the efforts of Ambassador Haq and described his tenure as one of the best by a Pakistani diplomat in the capital. Noted community elders Dr. Mahmood Ahmed Bajwa, Qazi Ishaq Memon and Hafiz Abdul Waheed also spoke on the occasion.
Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq and his wife Nighat Manzoor were presented with memorable gifts by the hosts, and the farewell ceremony ended on a sumptuous dinner.
