Saudi’s Grand Mosque imam meets Pakistani minister over interfaith dialogue

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Mohammed Yousaf was received by Grand Mosque Imam Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, who is also head of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, in his office Tuesday.

Ambassador of Pakistan Mohammed Naeem Khan accompanied the minister, along with other Pakistani diplomats.

The minister conveyed greetings from Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammed Nawaz Sharif to Sheikh Al-Sudais.

He said Pakistan is making concerted efforts for interfaith dialogue in line with the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

He also extended an invitation to Sheikh Al-Sudais to visit Pakistan. The sheikh thanked the minister for his visit and said Pakistan is a strong country with which Saudi Arabia enjoyed excellent relations.

He said that King Abdullah attaches great importance to Pakistan and its people.

Therefore it has been decided that each year one imam from the Grand Mosque and one from the Prophet’s Mosque will be sent to Pakistan.

Yousaf also requested that Sheikh Al-Sudais pray for the Muslim Ummah and particularly for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and its people. The minister on Monday called on the Secretary General of the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) Sheikh Ehsan Bin Saleh Tayyab and discussed with him the organization's relief work in Pakistan. The minister was accompanied by Ambassador Khan, Director General (Haj) Syed Ahmed Abu Aakif and officials of the Pakistani consulate.

The IIRO chief briefed the minister about various functions of his organization and showed a documentary of relief projects all over the world.

“Pakistan has great importance for the IIRO because relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are deep rooted and time tested and the same level of relationship exists between the peoples of both countries,” he said.
Minister Yousaf said Saudi Arabia was the second home for each Pakistani national.

During the meeting, Sheikh Tayyab and Minister Yousaf reviewed ongoing relief projects in Pakistan and identified further areas of cooperation.