ISLAMABAD, AUG 27 /DNA/ – President Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan attaches utmost significance to its relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which are based on common faith and mutual respect. He stated that both brotherly countries had long standing and deep-rooted fraternal relations which needed to be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of the two countries. He made these remarks while talking to the Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to Pakistan, Mr. Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, and President of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.
Welcoming the Ambassador and the President of IIUI, President Dr Arif Alvi said that both brotherly countries enjoyed excellent relations and there existed great potential between the two countries to further enhance economic and cultural relations. He emphasized the need for bilateral exchanges at high levels that would bring the two countries further closer. He expressed the hope that the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to KSA in May 2021 and the Saudi Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan in July 2021 would further boost bilateral cooperation. The President thanked KSA for providing financial support to Pakistan that helped rescue the country from financial problems.  
Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi briefed the President about the new strategic plan of the University aiming to improve governance and quality of education. He informed that the University was establishing a new department to provide distance learning to students. The President also discussed the recently formulated policy by HEC focusing on prevention of Drug and Tabaco abuse in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). He said that the policy would help prevent drug abuse in universities and provide healthy and enabling environment to students. Appreciating the policy to facilitate the Students with Disabilities (SwDs), the President mentioned that it provided waiver to SwDs from all institutional charges, including tuition fee, hostel fee and utilities bills. He expressed that hope that the initiative taken by the HEC would help encourage the students with disabilities to continue their higher studies as well as eradiate the menace of drug abuse from the HEIs.