RAWALPINDI, March 3: The Muslim countries should not use oil as a weapon in case of US attack on Iraq, said the ambassador of Saudi Arabia, adding “it is not feasible.”

Ali S. Awadhasseri, the Saudi ambassador, was answering questions at a Meet the Press programme at the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club here Monday.

He said: “It is not feasible for us to use oil as a weapon. We need to be stronger economically at this time when Muslim Ummah is passing through a critical phase of history. We are faced with a very difficult situation in the Middle East.”

To a question about Saudi Arabia’s position on Iraq, he said “our foreign minister has been to every country making all possible efforts to avoid a US attack on Iraq.”

The Saudi government has its own laws, labour rules and courts, and any Pakistani subjected to any kind of mistreatment or excesses should take recourse to these for the redressal of their grievances, he told a questioner.

But there are about one million Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia and it is very difficult to please everyone of them, especially those who go there on forged documents or overstay their visa or are not fit for the job they choose to do, he said.

He suggested to the government of Pakistan to regulate the process of overseas Pakistanis and compel agencies and overseas employment offices to strictly observe the rules and regulations to avoid problems or forgery.

It would be in the interest of both the countries if the ministry of labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis allowed only those agents to send people abroad who have proper licences, he proposed.

The Saudi envoy said that at least 200 such cases (sending of labourers on fake documents) have been traced by the Saudi authorities so far.

“For us, Pakistan is like a home. We don’t feel stranger here. The love and affection showered on us by the people of Pakistan make our hearts grow stronger,” he remarked.

Mr Awadhasseri regretted that the Muslim Ummah was passing through a most critical phase of its history. The world is in dire need of peace so that all nations, instead of wasting their energies on fighting each other, could pool their resources and commit themselves to the elimination of poverty, illiteracy and backwardness.

“Israel, using its brute force, is killing innocent Palestinians as a matter of daily routine. I am amazed to note that it is having no effect on the world conscience. The world is a victim of dazed silence. We can’t have peace at the expense of spilling the blood of innocent Palestinians and other people of the world,” he contended.

About Kashmir issue, he said it needed to be resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions.

He said Pakistan is a good place for investment and this is why Saudi investors have turned to this country in a big way.

He stressed that Pakistani businessmen should also invest in Saudia where new clauses had been introduced to facilitate such an investment. He said his government was very keen to see an increase in the mutual trade, and proposed frequent exchange of delegations.

He said Saudi Arabia needed skilled labour force and professionals from Pakistan.