Mosques across Pakistan held special dua (prayers) on Friday following the signing of the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact earlier this week. Worshippers offered gratitude and prayed for peace, security, and protection of the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah.
The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) announced Youm-e-Tashakkur (Day of Gratitude) on 18 September, linking it with the signing of the defence pact between Pakistan-Saudi Arabia. The observance coincided with Jumu’ah prayers on 19 September, where religious scholars and citizens prayed for the stability of the Muslim world and for the success of the new security agreement.
Details of the Defence Pact Between Pakistan Saudi Arabia
On 17 September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact in Riyadh. The agreement declares that an attack on either country treated as an attack on both. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the pact covers “all military means,” with Pakistan’s nuclear capability available for the defence of Saudi Arabia if required.
In Friday sermons, clerics emphasized that it was the holy obligation of Pakistan to protect the Haramain Shareef by the pact. A special dua done on the security of Saudi Arabia, the sovereignty of Pakistan and the peace of the region.
The Defence Pact Pakistan Saudi Arabia comes after heightened tensions in the Middle East, including Israel’s strike on Qatar on 9 September 2025. Analysts describe the pact as a turning point in defence cooperation, signaling deeper ties between Riyadh and Islamabad.
This is the second Youm-e-Tashakkur observed in 2025, the earlier one being in May for Pakistan’s military operations. Friday’s observance reflected the tradition of marking strategic agreements with national prayers, linking religious unity with security commitments.
