Lieutenant General Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Mershed, Commander Royal Saudi Land Forces called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday. He was accompanied by Abdul Aziz Bin Ibrahim Al-Ghadir, Saudi Ambassador, Major General Abdullah Muhammad Al-Aamir, Major General Saad Ali Qami, Brigadier Abdullah Saeed Al-Ghamdi and other senior officials.
Pak Side included Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Defence, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Acting Defence Secretary Major General Mir Haider Ali Khan (Retd) and spokesperson to the President, Farhatullah Babar besides other senior officials. Matters relating to bilateral relations including defence co-operation were discussed during the meeting.
Later the President also conferred Hilal-i-Imtiaz on Lieutenant General Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Mershed Commander Royal Saudi Land Forces for his meritorious services in bringing the two countries further closer. The citation read on the occasion said that "In recognition of his consistent and valuable contribution in promoting relations and understanding between the two countries and the armies, the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to confer the award of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) on Lieutenant General Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Mershed."-PR