The kings of Saudi Arabia have a history of funding (Saudi Fund for Development) the building of various schools, religious education centers, and recreational facilities in Pakistan.
Many historical places in Pakistan are named after the kings of Saudi Arabia, the best example of which is Faisal Mosque Islamabad which was built by the late King Faisal in Islamabad.
The new campus of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, named King Abdullah Campus, has been inaugurated, which was funded by the Saudi Fund for Development, with a grant of $90 million from the Saudi government.
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The new campus of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was inaugurated by SFD Director General of Asia Operations Dr. Saud bin Ayed Al Shamri in the presence of the President of Azad Kashmir, chairman of HEC Professor Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed and Vice Chancellor University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
15 different courses will be taught in the King Abdullah Campus and the campus has all the necessary buildings including an admin block, hostel facility, library, mosque, and the latest type of auditorium among other facilities.
The inauguration of this new campus will provide many opportunities for research and educational activities that will benefit 10,000 students faculty members and employees, and this will help to support the sustainable economic development of Pakistan.
In addition to academic activities, the new campus will also highlight the importance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, SDG4, Quality Education, SDG5, Gender Equality, SDG8, and SDG11 Sustainable Cities, and the importance of local communities towards improvement.
History of Saudi Fund for Development in Funding Pakistan
The Saudi Fund has had a history of development assistance to Pakistan since 1976, with 16 projects financed by the SFD and 18 soft loans valued at over 1.1 billion dollars.
These projects were launched and implemented to support multiple sectors including infrastructure, transportation, a healthy environment, energy production, and health.
After the devastating earthquake of 2005 in Kashmir, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave a grant worth $500 million under which 23 development projects were initiated to further reduce the damage to Kashmir.
In the country’s budget, the SFD also provided financial assistance worth three billion dollars and also lent large crude petroleum derivatives to Pakistan.
The inauguration of the King Abdullah Campus is proof of the brotherhood and strong friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. This project is a testament to SFD’s ability to fund and implement development projects in developing countries
