Pakistani envoy calls on king to bid farewell RIYADH: King Salman received governors of different regions, grand mufti of the Kingdom, scholars and citizens at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday. The reception began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an. A number of senior ministers and top officials attended the meeting. Separately, the outgoing Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Khan Hasham bin Siddique, called on the king to bid farewell. Abdulrahman Al-Issa, chief of the royal court and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Madani were also present during the meeting. Saudi Arabia’s long-standing and comprehensive relationship with Pakistan operates at many levels and in many areas, including trade, governance and values, health, education and culture besides politics and security. The two countries also work together extensively at the international level, within the framework of several bilateral, regional and global organizations including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The bilateral relationship has grown further since Pakistan joined the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT). The IMAFT, created by Saudi Arabia in December 2015 to combat Daesh and other terror groups, has 39 members.