The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of India Mr. Saleh Mohd. Al-Ghamdi paid a visit to Hyderabad, the capital of State of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India and met a large number of Muslim leaders of the State during a special lunch organized in his honour by H.E. Mr. Mohd. Ali Shabbir, Minister of Minority Affairs, Energy and Information, Government of Andhra Pradesh at his residence on Monday 22^nd October 2007.

The Ambassador conveyed to the Muslim leaders the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince and the Government and people of the Kingdom on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and assured them that the Kingdom’s leadership attaches utmost importance to providing all facilities to the Muslims of India and the world for performance of Haj and Umra in a smooth and comfortable manner. He said that the Kingdom’s efforts are evident from the great care and attention paid to the guests of Allah and the huge expansion projects that have been and are being carried out in the two Holy Mosques and other holy places in Makkah al-Mukarrama and Al-Madina al-Munawwara. The Ambassador stressed that serving the holy places and the pilgrims is a duty that the Kingdom is honoured to perform.

The Muslim leaders presented to the Ambassador a written request seeking the opening of a Saudi Consulate in Hyderabad so that the people of Andhra Pradesh could easily obtain the entry visa for the Kingdom. They pointed out that the need to open the Saudi Consulate has become more pressing after the inauguration of direct flights to Hyderabad by the Saudi Arabian Airlines two years back and that the Consulate will serve not only Andhra Pradesh but also other states in Southern India.

The Ambassador informed them that the matter is under consideration and promised them to follow it up further with the concerned authorities in Saudi Arabia and in India.

The Muslim leaders numbering more than 150 who represented all sections of the Muslim community in Andhra Pradesh asked the Ambassador to convey their respect and regards to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince and the people of Saudi Arabia and their appreciation for the great services being rendered by the Kingdom to the Muslims in India and the world and that they are proud of the wise leadership that the Kingdom is providing to the Islamic world.