JEDDAH — The Consulate General of Pakistan held a farewell lunch for the outgoing Pakistan Ambassador Khan Hasham bin Saddique here. The lunch was attended by all officers, including Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan

Khan Hasham said. “The friendship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is above personalities and has its roots in the peoples of both the countries. The people to people contact between the two countries has provided a base to these relations and it has been strengthened with each passing day.”

He said that he enjoyed every day of his stay in the Kingdom due to two major reasons. First reason, he said, is the closeness to the holiest places of the Muslims, and opportunity to perform the holy religious “ibadat”. Second is the opportunity to serve the large Diaspora of the Pakistani community living in the Kingdom.

He termed the service to the community as sacred duty. He said that he tried to perform to best of his abilities and expressed his satisfaction over his stay in the Kingdom in terms of services to the Pakistani community.

While appreciating the consulate officers’ commitment towards their work, he advised them to assist the community in best possible way adding that hard work is key to success.

Khan Hasham expressed his gratitude to tCustodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and the Saudi government for providing him an enabling and conducive environment to serve both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

He said that it was an honor for him to serve his motherland as well as the Kingdom, being the most sacred place for the Muslims of world.

Earlier, the consul general appreciated the ambassador for his fruitful stay in Saudi Arabia, adding that the ambassadors’ personal interest in community matters has motivated us to perform even better. — SG