Day: April 8, 2024

Jeddah: HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held an official meeting today at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

At the outset, the Crown Prince extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on assuming office, and expressed warm wishes for his tenure. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in turn, conveyed gratitude for the Kingdom’s steadfast support and hospitality, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering bilateral ties and economic cooperation.

The discussions centered on fortifying the fraternal relations between the two brotherly nations and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration across various sectors. Emphasis was placed on the Kingdom’s supportive role in Pakistan’s economy and the mutual desire to strengthen trade and investment ties. Both parties affirmed their commitment to expediting the first wave of investment package worth $5billion which was discussed previously.

Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, including the worrying situation in Gaza. They urged for international efforts to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and underscored the imperative for the international community to pressure Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza. They discussed the need for advancing the peace process in accordance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly as well as the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution, for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, (especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute) to ensure peace and stability in the region.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan invited the Crown Prince to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at the earliest convenience, which was accepted by the Crown Prince.

Makkah Al-Mukarramah

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Al-Kharj, The Eastern Mosque in Al-Yamamah village, Al-Kharj governorate, is a remarkable witness of the enduring Najdi architectural style.

According to historical sources, the mosque was constructed between 1050 and 1100 AH.

The mosque’s architectural style was crafted to suit the prevailing climatic conditions of the region. A basement was constructed to ensure warmth for worshippers and students during winter, and a cool place from the harsh summer heat. The mosque’s roof, built using tamarisk wood, is flat and features a solid, level layer to create a surface that aligns with the mihrab (prayer niche) on the ground floor.

Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Saees, an expert on local history, said that a room for ablution was constructed adjacent to the mosque, and a well was dug in the northwestern part of the mosque to provide water both for the mosque and for the local community.

The mosque’s basement features openings that allow natural light and air to filter in during the day and hangers for lamps to provi
de illumination at night.

The courtyard separates the basement area from the upper part of the mosque, and accommodates 40-60 worshippers.

The old mosque was last used in 1432 AH, as it needed restoration. As a valuable historical landmark, it had to be revamped by experts. The locals kept the mosque in its original state, placing barriers around it for protection.

According to historical documents, the mosque suffered severe damage in 1170 AH, but was subsequently restored. The mosque was constructed using materials sourced from the local environment, including solid, petrified mud veins and a layer of mud mixed with gypsum, a local material boiled to resemble natural gypsum, palm fronds, and twigs.

The mosque was last restored approximately 70 years ago.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

_:Beirut, The Israeli entity intensified its bombing of villages and towns in southern Lebanon, and Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on the outskirts of the towns of Halta, Kfarhamam, and Kfar Shuba.

The Israeli entity also launched an airstrike with missiles targeting the town of Al Adisa and another airstrike on the town of Kfarkela. Israeli reconnaissance planes flew at a very low altitude over Naqoura, the sea, and the airspace of the western sector, and carried out mock raids.

The Israeli entity continues its escalation against the towns and villages of southern Lebanon, in conjunction with its brutal and continuous aggression against the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, which resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians and forced hundreds of families to flee their homes.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced operating China Southern Airlines with regular flights between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China.

The operational plan included 4 passenger/commercial flights and 3 air cargo flights, starting April 16.

This step comes within GACA’s ongoing efforts to enhance air connectivity and expand the air transport network, in line with objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Saudi aviation strategy.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto the bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of common concern between the two sides, especially in the fields of defense industries, military communications, and trade.

The Turkish President stressed the importance of continuing to unify efforts between the two countries on issues related to the Palestinian cause and the Islamic world.

Source: Qatar News Agency