Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri paid tributes to the late King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and said King Fahd's special relations with the leadership of Pakistan contributed significantly towards strengthening bilateral relations and forging a closer understanding
on issues concerning the Islamic Ummah.
Addressing a condolence meeting, he said King Fahd was a distinguished statesman who devoted his life to the advancement of international peace and understanding.
Kasuri said King Fahd attached great significance to Pakistan as a leading member of the Islamic Ummah, not only during his reign, but in his earlier capacities as Minister of Education and Minister of Interior and Crown Prince.
He said King Fahd's dedication to the noble causes of the Islamic Ummah, and the welfare and development of the Islamic countries was commendable for which he will always be remembered.
Kasuri said during the past two decades, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Khadim Al-Harmain Al-Sharifain King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, had emerged as one of the world's top foreign aid donors, with its financial assistance extending to 70 countries worldwide.
During the tenure of King Fahd, Saudi Arabia provided billions of dollars in aid to member states of the OIC and loans to developing countries through international and regional organizations. Saudi Arabia also provided billions of dollars' worth of emergency assistance to countries throughout the world during disasters.
Kasuri said during the tenure of King Fahd, Saudi Arabia underwent remarkable transformation and achieved significant successes in realizing long term prosperity, stability and self- sufficiency for its people. King Fahd continued to shape his nation's growth which brought about enormous advances in health care, education, economy and agriculture. He encouraged and emphasized development of the private sector, as well as the restructuring and diversification of the economy, giving priority to such sectors as agriculture, industry and public transportation.
Kasuri said as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, the holiest sites in Islam, King Fahd personally supervised a series of projects to facilitate the Hajj for millions of pilgrims. The Islamic Ummah would forever remain grateful for his efforts at expanding the two Holy Mosques which allow a large number of Muslims to make pilgrimage in comfort and safety.
Kasuri said King Fahd's generous donation for the restoration in Jerusalem of the AI-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site of Islam, and for the Dome of the Rock and Umar Ibn Al- Khattab Mosques have also been a great service to the Muslim world.
Appreciating his services for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, the Foreign Minister said King Fahd was an active player on the regional and global scene and did not hesitate to use his diplomatic and mediation skills in time of crisis, especially when the interests of Muslims and Arabs were at stake.
Kasuri said the late King Fahd actively supported a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict to realize a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian question that would establish justice and restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
