Saudi king shuffles government again

ISLAMABAD: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia hosted Iftar/dinner in the honour of visiting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Safa Palace, Makkah, on Sunday evening.

The minister of state Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Issa was named head of the royal court, replacing Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Suwailem. The government has pledged tens of billions of dollars towards the problem but red tape and difficulties obtaining land have slowed disbursement of the aid and actual construction of homes. He and his delegation met King Salman at Al Safa Palace in Makkah.

Since then, there have been two major cabinet reshuffles, and the health minister has also been replaced.

Earlier in April, Pakistan Army chief of army and Prime Minister of Pakistan had visited Saudi Arabia for a day.

Al-Hogail was previously CEO of Rafal Real Estate Development Co.

King Salman relieved the previous housing minister, Shuwaish al-Duwaihi, of his post in March 2015, as a part of restructuring moves carried out in the Kingdom since he took the throne in January 2015. Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesman, Osama Nugali announced Saud’s death on his official Twitter feed, saying, “The eye tears, the heart saddens”.