PHOTO: FILE
The survey was conducted in 39 countries covering 37,653 respondents from March 2 to May 1, 2013 to assess how various countries view the kingdom.
While the Pew survey revealed that Saudi Arabia’s standing has slipped substantially among Middle Eastern publics, it also found a record high of favourable views of the kingdom in Pakistan.
None of the respondents from Pakistan expressed an unfavourable view of Saudi Arabia. In fact, the survey revealed that favourable opinions of Saudi Arabia have risen up by 8 percentage points in Pakistan from 2007 to 2013.
The survey results showed that opinions on Saudi Arabia had not soured in other predominately Muslim countries outside of the region, especially Pakistan.
On the issue of protecting the liberties of its citizens, half or more in Pakistan (65%) said the Saudi regime protects personal freedoms within its borders. The same opinion is held by Jordan, Egypt and Senegal.
Middle East
In the Middle East, overall opinion of Saudi Arabia varies widely.
Among its neighbours, Saudi Arabia is viewed favourably by clear majorities in Jordan (88%) and Egypt (78%). Only about half of Palestinians (52%) have a favourable opinion of the desert kingdom, although positive views are more prevalent in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip (58% favourable vs. 40% unfavourable) than the Fatah-dominated West Bank (48% vs. 45%).
COMMENTS (101)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1734946202-0/Express-Tribune-(6)1734946202-0-270x192.webp "govt declares public holiday on december 25")
1732012115-0/Untitled-design-(14)1732012115-0-270x192.webp "cm launches 2nd phase of scholarship scheme")
1734899716-0/image-(15)1734899716-0-270x192.webp "trade war between us and china round two")
The online poll show a completely different picture. Majority unfavourable to KSA
They must have been asking the Saudi sponsored terror camps/ madrassahs?
@Asad: This is sometimes known as Arabisation of the mind not blood.
@Malik Mohsin: Because they are Shias?
This cannot be right since Pakistan has a Barelwi majority and Barelwis hate KSA. May be poll was conducted in Deobandi exclusive areas.
Pakistanis Love Arabia(Holy land) not Saudis.. most of Pakistanis hate Saudis.. This poll is not correct
95% have a favorable view and 0% have an unfavorable view? I'm assuming they responded with 'neutral'/'mixed' or 'no views', but this survey still seems highly off. Even ET's own web survey shows 73% respondents have an unfavorable view. Now I understand web surveys aren't comparable in terms of reliability, and there may also be a sampling bias, but as a rough guide it's closer to what we see around ourselves. And perhaps the Pew survey had a sampling bias as well.
Very suspicious poll. Maybe someone has been paid off.........
@Malik Mohsin: Man, you don't even know about the ancestors of Pakistani people? They were either hindus converted to Islam or Islamic invaders from Iran/Afghan/Turk/Mongols. I don't think you have Saudi ancestors at all.where do you get your history lessons from? JuD?
Pakistanis are crybabies. Crying about someone not treating them "right" in their country. Its their country, and they can do whatever they want with it!!! Fix Your Country!!! Wait you had a chance this election, but you blew it. Gave PPP to Sindh, PML-N to Punjab...
Sadness prevails.
@darbullah:
"The master gives gifts and hence is liked."
More than that. Because US gives more money to Pakistan than Saudia. But, US is hated.
The difference is Saudia is the cradle of the favourite Religion in Pakistan. Thats the one and only cogent reason.
Farhan,
Wake up before it is too late.
Birds of a feather flock together. Can we get a survey of how many Saudis like Pakistanis. Seeing how they treat poor Pakistani laborers in the Immigration lines at Jeddah Airport tells me a lot. Respect who respect you.
Rafidis and Hindus must be biting their fingers by seeing the truth...
@ss: Exactly, it should be USA!
@Muhammad Afzal: every place has good and bad people but good and bad is just the perspective of the person
This survey is totally INCORRECT. Must be shown this way as Mr Sharif has to be in good books of both them and USA. Everyone knows Saudi Arabians treat Pakistanis like crap.
At least now we know what percentage of Pakistan is sufficiently intelligent.
Birds of a feather floc together. Enough said.
I think the survey was conducted only among TTP.
I think the survey question was not properlu framed.
@Siddiqui: @Malik Mohsin:
It should be clear by now that there is no silent moderate majority in Pakistan.
From the open comments of such commentators you can see some of the fruits of dangerous Saudi Wahhabi/Salafi/Sunni extremist propaganda and hate spouted by some delusional right-wing religo-political native Pakistani Islamist conservatives (which includes local Deoband/Ahle-hadith groups) who don't just highlight anti-Shia bigotry, but seemingly want to either condone or threaten to 'collaborate' or 'punish' Shia Iran, one way or another, which is a rough expression of endorsing extremism and sectarianism in Pakistan against the Shia Pakistani minority. This is just one part of the violent terrorist global jihadism narrative.
eT. Please send copy of your survey and the comments on their survey to PEW research center in order to guide them for their next survey. They may find their research methodology as incorrect because it seems that it failed to guage the true findings.
The poll is way of base..........this actually goes to show how much influence Saudi money has on shaping opinions in a corrupt country. I have six very close friends, all Muslims and they all detest the Saudi influence on Pakistan.
Summary of the on line survey perhaps mpre representative of the feeling of Pakistani people
What are your views on Saudi Arabia?
Extremely favourable 94 11% Favourable 100 11% Unfavourable 195 22% Extremely unfavourable 487 56%
Do you think the government of Saudi Arabia respects the personal freedoms of its people?
Yes 150 17% No 726 83% Number of daily responses
A country which 90 % people hate US but like the US allie.
Love for Saudi Arabia is due to love for the cities of Makkah and Madinah. It may not have much to do with the government ideology.
It was probably the radical jihadists who recieved their training from Saudi nationals that took this poll. Seriously, the results of this poll cannot reflect the majorities' views of Saudia; a country whose rulers have caused the most unfavourable and dangerous living conditions in what was once the gem of South Asia, Pakistan!
@Asad:
Which Country has no corruption ? except few countries in the world, but those countries where corruption does take place spends 90 % at least, whereas we spend 10% and eat up 90%.....this is the difference between us and those corrupt nation.Let us face facts and truth without which we will always remain under a state of denial.
ET you have zero tolerance if people like me give dissenting opinion.
We blame the United States of America for pretty much all of our problems yet we kiss up to one of its strongest allies in the Middle East. We are such hypocrites.
I think the survey was made by any Islamic MULLAH in any religious Center.
It sound non sense that Saudi is a Fever able state for other Muslims, Most of Muslims Hate Saudi and their so called ANTI Unity polices,
Although Muslims Likes the religious places of Saudi such as Grand Mosque and Madina etc.
But be sure that Saudi is some thing harmfull.
@Malik Mohsin: Be careful on what you say
By saying Saudis are your blood brothers,you are indirectly admitting that your great great grandmother was an unwilling recipient of the DNA from the Arab soldiers who conquered Sindh under the leadership of Mohammed Qasim,Ghaznavi,Ghori etc......(Cant be more politically correct than this)
Not sure why you pride in that fact ????
Love of Saudi Arabia is alright but hegemony of SA is a big NO NO. Which incidently they are trying these days.
It reflects the majority of the random sample. It also highlights that the 'enlightened', 'moderate', 'western educated' readers and the majority of the readers of online english newspapers are not the real majority. Infact an overwhelming minority.
We do not seem to accept that the majority of the Pakistani popoulation - poor, downtrodden, exploited, excluded from economic inpendence, have nothing but anger against the minority (us) and those that do not resort to violence amongst them take refuge in the embrace of Islam. And Saudi Arabia is the bastion of Sunni Islam.
Like it or not.
With these shocking results one can imagine any thing is possible in Pakistan. Sun can rise from west to move to east. May be they surveyed one Madrassah for Salafi/ Wahabis/ Deobandis. UAE is only country in GCC which is best place for Pakistanis far better then Saudis.
Proud member of the 5% non lovers
touche KSA...petrodollars well spent #respect. funny how the personal freedom question received positive response from east of KSA and negative from west of KSA. how bad do you have to be to make the Russians believe you are intrusive.
@Malik Mohsin If any are blood brothers of you then those will be Indian, Afghani, Iranians. How arabians are you blood brothers ? Only way to have same blood with Arabians, is blood transplant. If you strictly believe that you are Arabian, then you will have to accept that you are immigrants to South asia. As well as you have nothing common with Mughals.
Yes, same Saudis from Najd who ended Islamic Khilafat on orders of Perfidious Albion aka British who coincidentally created another great nation of Israel via Balfour declaration. Not sure if we are wilfully ignorant or suffering from amnesia.
Heathens view rich heathens favorably, it is what it is.
Nothing can be done with these people.They love the worst, most despotic country in the world.
Look at the sorry state of Pakistan. This survey confirms in which world most of the Pakistanis live.
@Noor Nabi: Saudi Arabia and UAE recognized Taliban government because Pakistan recognized it first and requested its true friends to do the same. Why we blame our friends of our own wrong doings. We should be thankful to our friends who stood with us once again when we started re-writing history.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
You are right. It has always given protection to Mian Nawaz Sharif in its palaces. Rest of Pakistani workers it treats as sh*t. It must see something special in Mian Nawaz Sharif.
I wonder how many Pakistani women believe that Saudi Arabia honors personal freedom?
ET would you dare to publish my comments as you always have an "iron curtain" and "strong censorship" when its come to express views about "Saudi Arabia" and "Pakistan Army".
I'm simply shocked, appalled, dismayed and feel devastated after realizing how ignorant and low our society has become to give standing ovation and overwhelming applause to one of the worst regimes existing on this planet. The religious, moral, and social decadence has hit reached its maximum when its comes to the Pakistani society. Anyone, who has some sanity and believes upon "freedom of expression and speech" would simply consider Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Society worse than anything we have at this moment.
Its simply due to our apathy and ignorance that we are reaping the fruits of Wahabi extremism after Pakistan became the laboratory of Saudi Salfi Islam.
I dont trust these figures. Most pakistanis I know do not have favorable view of SA.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Then you probably need to consider the behavior of Arabs with non-arabs especially with Pakistanis. What is the use if you make a wonderful mosque but you don't know how to treat with human beings irrespective of origin and status.
@Jibran: That proves you're wrong, they don't treat your workers as slaves, and they don't export hate to your country, otherwise 95% of Pakistanis will not have loving views for Saudi Arabia.
One has to be mad to love saudi. This proves that 95% of people in land of pure are suffering serious mental illness. No wonder the country is such a mess.
Than we wonder why are we in such deep mess. Our list of friends Saudi Arabia, UAE and China, who have given us nothing except hatred, terrorism to fight their enemies on our turf besides defective locomotives, outdated air planes and sub marines and useless technology whereas countries like USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Australia, France and others who have kept us alive and solvent with huge loans and grants are our biggest enemies! PAF, PK Army and Navy was established by USA and UK when we had NOTHING and I mean NOTHING. We surely have a death wish! I rest my case!
@Malik Mohsin: Ahah. Was scrolling through comments looking for one of you:). You are entitled to your opinion so I won't say anything else, except I implore you to consider other possibilities.
Like father like son.
@Jibran: Exactly.
@Malik Mohsin: We do not share culture, identity, and ancestry. The Saudi culture and religion was imposed upon us through imperialism and conquest.
Interesting! I was visiting Riyadh last year and took a taxi with an English colleague to a restaurant. The taxi driver dressed up in Arab garb couldn't find the restaurant and struggled to communicate in English. After a long and frustrating journey we somehow got him to take us back to the hotel. Upon reaching there the hotel security asked us why we came back so soon. When we explained the drivers inability to find the restaurant they hauled him out of the taxi and before our very eyes beat him black and blue accusing him of being a low life thief. It was only when they were communicating with him in Urdu did I realise that he was a Pakistani. We were shocked at this treatment and all our requests to spare him fell in deaf ears. The irony is that Pakistanis still respect the Arabs even though they are badly treated there but despise the west where their human rights are respected. I wish I knew he was from Pakistan as I would have been able to communicate with him and save him the flogging of his life.
Well the poll on tribune suggests that 53% of the readership here views the Saudis extremely unfavourably. Biased survey, probably funded by the Wahabi's themselves.
@malikMohsin Sir, its people like you why are country is so screwed up.
This is because most pakistanis think mecca/madina when they are asked about saudia arabia, so the answers have an aspect of 'aqeedat'. And with that aqeedat, pakistanis may be willing ignore all else. But that aside KSA government has done some questionable things, its support for USA, its treatment of fellow muslims, the ancestors of saudi family playing an active role in the breakup of the K-e-Usmania to name a few...
95% of Pakistanis love Saudi Arabia.
And look where it has taken Pakistan.
53% of Turks do not like Saudi Arabia.
And look how much better off they are.
Moral of the Story- ?? *!!~!!*
Saudi Arabia is the number 1 supporter, exporter and funder for Salafist ideology which, in turn, is the root cause of global terrorism committed in the name of Islam. Pakistan is a tool of the Saudis. These two countries + the UAE were the only ones to recognize the rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan. If the findings of this article are correct then Pakistan is a doomed state. In their heart of hearts the Saudis view Pakistanis with utter contempt and the financial support they provide is out of the Zakat funds set aside for the misakeen i.e., the wretched poor.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
May i add.....the govt recuested an additional USD 100 millón for Neelum - Jhelum project and received it on 26 Sept...beside, Pakistán receives oil on prefential rate....is this not a proof of our mutual brotherly love......
Mullah rules Pakistan, once a slave, a always slave !
This survey actually reflects the awareness of Pakistanis about international affairs. Pakistanis can't use word 'unfavourable' for Saudi Arabia because it is SIN for most of them.
Pakistán should be sourced out to Saudí Arabia....we do not deserve democratic system, only DANDA......
Ignorance is bliss.
A classic case of Stockholm Syndrome.
@Malik Mohsin "Saudi and Pakistani are blood brothers. We share common culture and ancestory."
No we are not :O
I do not think this survey carries the opinion of all shades of population. In my reckoning Saudi Arabia image has suffered a nose dive in Pakistan. This survey appears to be more like Zia's referendum
Proves that pakistanis are delusional and clueless.
@Malik Mohsin: You got to be kidding. We have no blood relations with that corrupt nation.
I hope I live to see the day when Saudis take their rightful place in the world order. The place they rightfully deserve, not the one they enjoy because of the western found oil but the one in which The Nawab of Hyderabad has to put them on a stipend so they could maintain the Kaba. The natural order of things is that they eventually fall in their rightful place and I pray that I am alive to see it when it happens. As for Pakistan's favorable view of the Saudis... Is it a surprise that our country is becoming more intolerant in nature, tribal and bigot in mentality and irrational and emotional in its outlook. NOT A SURPRISE......
@Malik Mohsin: LOL on your Arab ancestry.
@Malik Mohsin Saudi Arabia is our friend in the global struggle against the Iranian Shia imperialism. We need to come together and punish Iran for its arrogance.
was it KSA who asked Sunnis to kill shias and other sects? Do not blame them for the wrong deeds for our own people. Re it was US, west together with ME countries who funded Afghan war to protect us from Russians and created Taliban. but they did not plan the end well. KSA has always offered assistance to Pak and our nuclear program and is really a good friend. how well we treat our servants
It has a lot to do with the fact it is a religious country and the House of Allah, secondly Pakistanis go there and earn money and have a safe living as far as Pakistan is concerned (my dadu had work there, UAE and Jordan back in the day and said it was a safe and good experience) and thirdly most Pakistanis outside of Pakistan cannot see the brutal government and its treatment of Sufi Sunni Muslims and its laws which you can get lashed and ten years in prison just for dancing and listening to music and oh I mean women can't even drive, come on, but as far as Jeddah is concerned it has modernised. Pakistanis also can't see further than their own government in power let alone Saudis.
The master gives gifts and hence is liked.
The 5% who do not have a favorable view have worked as laborers in KSA.
This is like we favour Talibans too but here we are talking about buying love with petro dollars fifty years investment besides three years hefty assignments to the powerful forces, others (including media) get free umra and hajj gifts. Otherwise this is a same nation who ran a movement to revive Khilafat e Usmania.
Who did they ask? TTP?
I think this article need correction.....
It's not the love for saudi arabia but only the love of holy places i.e. MECCA MEDINA that runs in the blood of every muslim. That does not mean PAKISTANIS dislike SAUDIS as SAUDIS do.
Alas, we hate our ancestors ,we love invaders and barbarians~ in short we are arab slaves.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. Saudi Arabia has always stood with us in all crises. About two million Pakistanis work there and send home billions in foreign exchange. Saudis have invested billions in Pakistan and created jobs. Saudis are guardians of Islam's most sacred places and they have made those holy places real wonders of the world. Thank you Saudi Arabia.
Saudi and Pakistani are blood brothers. We share common culture and ancestory. We need to collaborate against evil designs of Iran.
lol why am i not surprised?
The findings tally very well with the level of illiteracy in Pakistan.
we r screwed.
You can clearly see the difference of opinion in western countries for Saudi Arabia especially in terms of Freedom of Speech. For Pakistanis, Saudia Arabia is a good source of jobs(apart from religious affiliation) especially for a middleman and if we compare the current situation of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, people feel good in Saudi Arabia. But in my point of view, still there is not enough freedom of speech, especially if you are from Asian origin.
How about someone asking Saudis about their opinion of Pakistan (Bakistan?) and their dear brother and sister Bakistanis.
Findings are in line with local support for TTP and associated ideologies. Very sad state of affairs.
Who are the true muslims? No not arabs... where is the fortress of islam(islam ka qilla) situated? no, not where the kabba is situated... well you just have to take a peek at this survey to know the truth... But habibi has anyone ever asked any non-south asian muslims what they think of south asian muslims... you will get to know the truth Shukraan
And that explains Pakistan's pathetic situation especially interms of security and tolerance.
I doubt this survey was unbiased but knowing pakistanis they are crazy enuff to vote for corrupt, criminal politicians so why not have a favourable view of your oppressor.
this proves twitter DOES NOT reflect reality
Amazing.... They despise us, and treat our workers as slaves, they export hatred in our country, and have turned our country into a slaughter house. They are our real enemies. Yet 95% Pakitanis view them favorably.