RIYADH — A cross-section of Saudi and Pakistani community professionals celebrated the Saudi Founding Day here recently following the announcement made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in this regard. The new annual national day, celebrated for the first time on Feb. 22, has been marked to commemorate the foundation of the first Saudi state in 1727 by Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud. A grand ceremony was organized at a local hotel in the Saudi capital city to mark the 300th Founding Day of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Prosecutor of Pakistani origin Fatima Wazir Shangwani, a community leader Bazgha Rohail and leading women social worker Iffat Babar were the organizers of the event. Iffat, who has been supporting and promoting several community initiatives, supported this event with a pledge to help organize some quality Pakistani community events this year. The celebration was attended by a large number of prominent Pakistani community members. Speaking on this occasion, Imtiaz Ahmed welcomed the distinguished guests. Sohail Warraich, welfare attache at the Embassy of Pakistan, was the special guest on this occasion. AlCO Industrial Factory CEO Shahid Mahmood, Chief Director Muhammed Sadiq Shadab, Marketing Manager Madni Bilal too attended. Warraich congratulated the Saudi government and the Saudi people on the occasion of the Founding Day. He said Pak-Saudi friendship is eternal and the bond of brotherhood and love between Pakistani and Saudi people is a living example for communities and nations. Speaking on the occasion, Fatima Wazir, chief organizer of the program, said. "The living nations always remember their history and heritage." Saudi Arabia is a prosperous, courageous and proud nation with strong local and international policies and plans, she added. To this end, it is important to note that the Kingdom celebrated the first ever 'Founding Day' holiday marking three centuries since the first Saudi state was established. The first Saudi state was established by Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud in 1727 in the city of Diriyah, to the northwest of Riyadh. The historic capital was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 and has been revitalized with a series of restoration projects giving visitors a glimpse of the old palaces and mosques. In their remarks, hosts Manik Shangwani, Saleh Balayti, Ibrahim Balayti Hafiz Abdul Wahid, Salim Kawish, leading columnists Tasneem Amjad, Shehzad Amir, Dr. Saqib, Tariq M. Aslam Chaudhary, Babar Ali Malek and others commended and applauded the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad. They also thanked the King and Crown Prince for hosting more than two million Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia. Last but not the least, they thanked the organizers Nora and Maryam for their skills in decorating the venue of the event beautifully. The audience were entertained by Salman Roomi & Rafey Zaman from a Riyadh based prominent musical band that paid tribute to King Salman, Crown Prince and the founding fathers by presenting a beautiful national song on the occasion of first Saudi Founding Day. On the sidelines of the event, a glittering cake-cutting ceremony was also organized to mark the Founding Day of Saudi Arabia.
