By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Pakistani consulate here has recovered SR326,716 as diyat (blood money) and dues for the deceased of Overseas Pakistanis (OPs) through Saudi Shariah Court during the past one month, Consul General Khalid Majid has said.

He was addressing a press conference in the consulate premises on Tuesday with Deputy Consul General Shaiq Ahmed Bhutto and Arshad Munir Consular (Press) in attendance.

In his first meeting with the media after taking charge as consul general, Majid has said that he would engage with media regularly and provide updates on different consular activities and services.

“I would like to thank the media for their excellent coverage of the consulate events, especially when consulate marked "Black Day" in solidarity with Kashmiris,” he said.

The consulate, Majid said, last month issued 13,813 Machine Readable Passports and 2,278 emergency travel documents (ETDs). Other services include: Attestation of various types of documents (2,483); NICOPs/SNICOPs issued (3,493); visas issued to Saudis (244); OPF Membership/Foreign Exchange Remittance cards issued (177); visits to jails/deportation centers (16); consular access provided to Pakistani prisoners (102); NOCs issued for local burial/transportation of dead bodies to Pakistan (154). Legal advice/guidance provided to Pakistani nationals (1,342); visit to courts/hospitals/government and private offices (134); financial assistance provided to destitute Pakistanis (SR33,410); and dues of workers recovered through Saudi Labor Court (SR251,834)

Atif Dar, head of Chancellery; Majid Memon (Community Welfare Consular); Mohammed Hussan (Community Consular); and other consulate officers also attended the press conference.