Federal Minister for Finance, Ishaq Dar visited Embassy of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to condole the sad demise of King Abdullah. In a meeting with the Saudi Charge d' affaires, Jassim Bin Mohammad Al Khaldi, the minister expressed heart-felt grief and sorrow over the passing away of Saudi king. He said the late king was a great leader and a supporter of Pakistan. He has rendered great services for the religion, the Muslim Ummah and Pakistan.
"Late King Abdullah was a great believer in inter-faith harmony and presented before the world the true picture of Islam as a religion of peace and moderation," the Minister remarked. He further said that with the death of King Abdullah, Pakistan had lost a great friend. "He always helped Pakistan and provided assistance in the hour of need." The minister prayed that May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in peace and grant fortitude to the bereaved family, the Saudi nation and the whole Muslim world to bear this loss. His services for the Muslim world will be written in golden words, the minister added. The minister also on the occasion recorded his impressions in the Condolences Book.
Saudi Charge d' affaires, Jassim Bin Mohammad Al Khaldi thanked the minister for the benign gesture, expressing the hope that Pak-Saudi ties would be further bolstered in future under the new Saudi leadership. Later in an exclusive talk with the Saudi TV, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar extended warm felicitations to the newly crowned King, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz. He said that like his predecessors, King Salman was a great statesman and a man of vision. "I am sure he would prove to be a great friend of Pakistan."