RIYADH: Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, unveiled 18 paintings of Diriyah at an exhibition in Riyadh on Tuesday, describing the collection as a tribute to the Kingdom and its leadership.
In the exhibition titled “Diriyah: Past and Present,” the ambassador showcased the Kingdom’s historic birthplace through his eyes.
Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud attended the exhibition and highlighted the close ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Speaking to Arab News about the importance of an art exhibition such as this in Saudi-Pakistan cultural ties, Prince Sultan said: “It means more than culture, it means that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are great countries that have been together and will continue to be together as the world is existing.
“To choose a venue of culture and to have an ambassador painting about an area that’s dear to myself, an area that I have more or less followed and lived in and promoted for the last 40 years is very heartwarming so it’s a very wonderful touch for the ambassador to choose Diriyah.”
Prince Sultan also said he had proposed visiting another part of Saudi Arabia with Farooq.
Farooq painted works depicting Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi state, including artworks of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif and Wadi Hanifa.
