ISLAMABAD: Top Pakistani diplomats in Saudi Arabia met with the highest-ranking officials in Jeddah and Tabuk this week to look after the interests of 2.2 million Pakistan nationals living and working in the Kingdom.
Consul general in Jeddah, Khalid Majid, met with the director-general of the Saudi Ministry of Labor, Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Tawi on Thursday.
Al-Tawi “appreciated the role of the Pakistani community in the development of the Kingdom” and assured the consul of his “full support for the resolution of any issues pertaining to his Ministry,” the Pakistani consulate said a statement.
According to the mission, more than 2.2 million overseas Pakistanis are living in Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, Majid and Al-Tawi discussed various matters related to Pakistani workers and “vowed to continue working with the same zeal through (a) sustained institutionalized mechanism,” according to the statement.
On Monday, Ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz met with Tabuk Governor Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and said Pakistani expats considered Saudi Arabia to be “their second home.”
Pakistan Embassy officials told Arab News that Ambassador Ejaz also met with members of the Pakistani expat community, assuring them of embassy support and urging them to abide by local laws and regulations.
“You are the ambassadors of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia and your contributions in the development of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are valued by both countries,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s prime minister has visited the Kingdom four times in less than a year and the Saudi crown prince also paid a visit to Pakistan last year, “which shows the strength” of bilateral relations.