Faiz Al-Najdi RIYADH – The Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia was bestowed upon with the title of “People's Ambassador” by the Pakistani community in Riyadh. The Pakistani community had gathered Thursday evening to pass a resolution appealing to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to consider awarding another three-year term to Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan in recognition of his outstanding services rendered for Pakistan and the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia. The event was conceived by Choudhry Faryad Ahmed and by Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Riyadh President Saeed Ahmed Waince. It was hosted by PML-N in collaboration with Pakistan Writers Club, Riyadh Chapter. In his speech, Waince said the community had never had never had an ambassador so dedicated and focused on serving the Pakistani community. “I have personally witnessed him meeting with common Pakistanis in the embassy every Tuesday morning. He passionately listens to their problems and issues immediate instructions to solve them,” he said. “I have seen him attending funerals and weddings of common Pakistanis — without any distinction,” he added. Waince said during the recent crisis in which thousands of Pakistanis faced deportation due to their legal status problems, it was Ambassador Naeem who first took up the matter seriously with the top Saudi leadership. He said the ambassador was able to convey his concerns to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. He asked the King to consider awarding an amnesty that would give time to expatriate Pakistanis to correct their legal status. “I am proud to mention here that it was only because of this bold and intelligent diplomatic move from our ambassador that the King ordered allowing an amnesty/grace period for expatriate workers to correct their job status and become legal here,” he said. Waince also commended that the efforts made by the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah to extend help and assistance to distressed Pakistanis. “Under the leadership of our ambassador a number of job fairs were held and thousands of Pakistanis were connected with hundreds of employers. These job fairs have provided opportunities through which more than 10,000 Pakistanis have been able to secure gainful employment.” Waince went on to say that more than 200,000 Pakistanis have been served by the embassy and consulate in their legal problems with the Saudi Passport Department and the Ministry of Labor. He also commended the ambassador for helping poor Pakistanis who are unable to afford medical treatment. “The ambassador has arranged for free medical camps with the help of Pakistan Doctor's Group which has provided free medical consultation, medicines and laboratory facilities to thousands.” Ambassador Naeem has overseen the opening of Pakistani schools in Tabuk and Taif and made headway on the diplomatic front and in field of trade and commerce. “All of these achievements have earned our ambassador respect before the eyes of Pakistanis,” he said. Prof. Mahmud Bajwa – chief adviser of PML-N Riyadh – ably conducted the event. A resolution containing a long list of achievements of Ambassador Naeem and an appeal to Prime Minister Sharif from the expatriate community in Riyadh was read out loud. This event was attended by nearly 100 Pakistani community leaders from 21 Pakistani organizations representing from all walks of life and from all Pakistani political, literary and social organizations.
