At the outset, I would like to express my deep sorrow on the sad demise of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahad Bin Abdul Aziz at first National Day after his death.
In this connection, I would like to extend my heart felt condolence to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and his trusted Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz and to the people of Saudi Arabia. May Allah the Almighty grant our beloved King Mercy and Paradise.
As well as I would like to extend my heartiest felicitation to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on the occasion of taking over the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a new King.
I am also delighted to avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz for being appointed as Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
I would like to remind the readers that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is celebrating its National Day today on 23rd September 2005.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia every year on this auspicious day commemorates the Historic event when the late King Abdul Aziz unified the divided parts of Arabia and succeeded in bringing into existence this great edifice which has remained intact inspite of hostile winds and waves blowing around it and defeating all external factors targeting this country and threatening its identity.
The principles of the Government practiced by the late King Abdul Aziz are still maintained and strengthened by the enlightened and dynamic Kings who succeeded him. Namely King Saud, King Faisal, King Khalid, King Fahad. Followed by the present King.
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and his trusted Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdual Aziz. These able sons have built and still busy in building edifice of a modern Islamic State having the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.
On the basis of this proud legacy the six five years development plans have been successfully completed.
In doing so, the Government of Saudi Arabia has adopted a balanced strategy aimed at promoting Islamic Ideology, developing human resources and backing the production sectors such as Agricultural, Industries, and Minerals. In this manner several giant projects have been completed and development of cities and villages, expansion of roads, bridges, tunnels and setting up the new projects for water desalination.
In addition to this the Government of Saudi Arabia has given special attention to Education and health sectors. The Cabinet of Saudi Arabia has approved the seven five years development plan to which follows the same pattern as in the past.
The Kingdom has adopted the free economic policy within the frame work of Islamic principles. It stresses on the development of Saudi nationals on the ground so that every citizen is at the center of the development as well as it concentrates on the promotion of administrative system and enhancement of production capacity of Government set up.
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has declared the constitution of the Saudi Kingdom is the Holy Quran and Sunnah and declared that reforms ushered in by Late King Fahad would be pursed.
One of the first acts of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz is to carry on further improvements in the Prophets Mosque at Madinah Al-Munawara, allocating special funds of several billion Riyals as well as giving special increase of fifteen percent in the salaries of government officials and employees.
There are well come developments that have delighted many Saudi people. It reflects that Saudi Arabia shall be witnessing another era of greater prosperity and progress in the days ahead.
I take this opportunity also to thank all my Pakistani friends for the good wishes on our National Day and express the confidence that the brotherly relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan shall grow stronger and deeper under the leadership of Khadim Al-Harmain King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and his trusted Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.