Saudi Arabia will build the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Mosque along with research and cultural centres at the new campus of the International Islamic University (IIU) in Islamabad, Arab News reported.
“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has decided to build the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Mosque with a capacity of 12,000 worshippers at the new campus of the International Islamic University,” Dr. Masoom Yasinzai was quoted by the Saudi news outlet as saying.
According to the media outlet, in addition, the Saudi government will also build library and an auditorium that will be named after Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. “Initially, the construction of the mosque was going to cost Rs500 million,” Yasinzai said. “But now the research and cultural center has also been included in the project which will raise its cost,” it reported.
“The research center will focus on Arabic language, Islamic culture and heritage. The center will be equipped with digital technology to provide online Arabic courses from Islamabad to the whole world,” the IIU rector said, adding the Kingdom will announce need-based scholarships for at least 250 Pakistani students.
It may be noted here that Pakistani top leadership, including Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa are on official visits to Saudi Arabia. Gen Bajwa had left for the Kingdom before the PM to lay “groundwork” for Imran’s visit.
Imran and MBS held a meeting today. Both sides discussed measures to boost Saudi-Pak ties and increase cooperations in the fields of defence, security, trade, and culture.
