Saudi Arabia pledges support to Pakistan’s OIC candidate

Ambassador Khan is currently serving as Pakistan’s Envoy in Riyadh and a Permanent Representative to OIC in Jeddah.

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday endorsed the candidature of Pakistan's ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan for the post of Assistant Secretary General from the Asian region at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs release, Pakistan had nominated Khan, currently serving as Pakistan's top representative in Saudi Arabia for the OIC post.

Ambassador Khan is also a Permanent Representative to OIC in Jeddah.

The statement further stated that a letter from the Saudi Foreign Minister had affirmed the Saudi government's support.

"The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad called on the Adviser to the Prime on National Security and Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Office today (October 01, 2013) and handed over a letter signed by the Saudi Foreign Minister His Royal Highness Prince Saud al-Faisal committing his country’s support to Pakistan’s candidature for the important post."

Several other countries from OIC have also indicated their support to Pakistan's candidature.

As coordinator for the OIC's Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), Pakistan plans to host a Science and Technology Summit for the Organisation in the first half of 2014.

Elections for the post of Assistant Secretary General for the period 2014-2019 are likely to be held at the forthcoming 40^th Session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Conakry, Guinea in the second week of December 2013.