Dammam, Oct 3: Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Hamid Ali Rao praised King Abdullah for extending the grace period for illegal expats till November 3 and requested all Indian expatriates in the country to make use of this occasion.
Addressing the Indian volunteers based in Dammam and Al-Khobar, who involved in helping the people affected by Nitakat, Mr Rao urged the expatriates to follow the law of the land. The meeting was organised at Indian International School, in Al-Rakah, Dammam. DCM Sibi George and Trade Secretary Ravi Shankar Geol also accompanied Mr Rao to Dammam.
Mr Rao played an active role in Nitakat issue and made several visits to Dammam to interact with the Indian volunteers and to look into the problems of Nitakat affected Indian nationals. He also invited the Indian volunteers to Riyadh to discuss the latest developments and the steps to be taken further. He was closely abreast with the high level Saudi officials to resolve the matters of Indians working in Saudi Arabia.
Since April, Indian volunteers and the Indian Embassy were closely working to help issue the Emergency Certificates (ECs) to those, who want to exit the country. More than 50, 000 ECs were issued by the Indian Embassy in the entire kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The premises of Indian School in Dammam was well utilized to collect the EC fresh applications and to distribute ECs to the Indian nationals. Large number of people turned out at Indian School to collect the ECs. ECs were made free of charge by the Indian government in this crisis period, though in normal period, embassy charges SR. 30 for each EC.
At the meeting, Mr Rao praised the unity of all the Indian volunteers, who worked together relentlessly, all these months and upheld the unity in diversity of Indian culture. He also thanked the IISD Chairman, Thirunavakkarasu and the Principal, Dr. EK. Mohammed Shafe for providing the Indian School with good facilities.
Sharief Karakkala from Karnataka was actively involved in helping the people at various points like Tarheel and the labor office. Among the prominent Indian community people present were Mr. Mirza Zaheer Baig from AP, a well known Scientist from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. Mr. Hasnain from UP, Mr. Rasheeq Ahmed from Bihar, Mr. Suresh and Tajuddin from Tamil Nadu, Mr. Ajayan Wilson, Mr. Shaji, Mr, Kuppam Kunju from Kerala.
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