A glittering ‘Panorama get-together-2012’ held in Riyadh

naeem@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
October 19, 2012

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Riyadh, October 19: A vivid and gleaming ‘Panorama get-together-2012’ was held over the last weekend at Al-Rushd Istirah (humorously known as ‘Mangalore Istirah’) in Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia. The gathering comprised of huge throng mostly from Mangalore and other parts of India and foreign countries residing in different corners of the oil-rich Kingdom. Panorama (Padubidrians) Riyadh Unit had organised the gala impressively by giving a colourful and unique touch.

Panorama, a non-profit and voluntary organisation, which is consisted of around sixty young men from Padubidri in Udupi District of Karnataka State, came into existence in the Central Province and Eastern province of Saudi Arabia in 2006 with the objective of building a new school by replacing the old dilapidated (Urdu School) school and also to catering the educational facilities in the premises in order to facilitate the people in the region.

The Urdu primary school has been existing since about a century at Padubidri. Many students, especially from poor class families, gain education in the School. However, the school is on its last legs exposing to a potential risk of collapse at any moment. This alarming situation made the members of Panorama to shoulder a great responsibility of providing a new educational premises by substituting the old one. The first phase of the building was already complete with the generous help of several donors and philanthropists.

The organising committee said that the get-together was a great way to spend good time with the people of different tastes and experiences in one place that they hardly ever see and to make our key project (school building & its other facilities) clearly visible to them to be part of our effort through our campaign-"Roof to Read".

The gala was kicked off with the recitation of Qur’an by Ismail Musliyar Manjanady followed by the kick-off tips to the members (how to handle the huge gathering on the occasion) by Abdul Rahman Hussain, Ex-President and P A Hameed Padubidri, President of Panorama. The get-together was vividly colored with various events like cricket, breaking the pot, tug of war, oral quiz contest etc. for the gents. Gunny bag race, melodic chair game, hitting the pot, quiz competition etc. were conducted exclusively for the children, who had created the waves of fun and frolics on the occasion by their active participation in the various games and plays.

‘Breaking-the-Pot’ was the highly amusing game among both adults and children, who keenly took part in the pastime that really produced the strings of gaiety and hilarity amongst the spectators. It took an hour for many participators (whose eyes were tightly tied with a piece of cloth with zero visibility) to break the pot. The failed attempt by the competitors gave a feast of fun and joys in the midst of audiences. Finally, Mr. Rauf from Jolly boys broke the pot and emerged as the winner of the contest amid a big round of applauses and ovations. Ahmed M.Hussain, Founding President of Panorama Dammam Unit and Abdulsalam M.Hussain took a charge of conducting the game.

The raffle draw, lucky baby and lucky family were some of the special attractions of the event. While the raffle draw were for general audience, the lucky family and lucky baby were exclusively for the ladies. Several funs and games were also conducted for the ladies. They took the lead in organizing a lot of events for ladies. Ms. Ranim Abdul Rahman showed her talents through various events. Ummu Raaef came out to be the winner of lucky family and Abdullah Yasser Mulky turned out to be Lucky Baby on the occasion. Fabulous prizes like Refrigerator, multi-featured Gas cooker etc. were conferred to the winners of the raffle draws. Mr. Nelson D’Souza from McDonalds Riyadh provided five gift vouchers of free happy meals and other free breakfast coupons. The winners of stage quiz competition had been given away with the McDonald gift vouchers.

Panorama Trophies, 8GB USBs, Cups, clocks and other items were also conferred as prizes to the winners of various events.

Younus (Mangalore Kings), Zakaria (Al-Muzain) Jubail, Safa Makkah Polyclinics, Raisco, Real-Tech Jubail, Compass Dammam were the key sponsors and Malabar Gold & Diamonds Riyadh, ARWADA Trading Est., Fashion line, Nesto Hyper Market and others were some of the co-sponsors of the event. Several representatives of the sponsors and co-sponsors were present and enjoyed the programme. AEC Ltd. and Muhaidib Foods (Mustaq Hassan) have provided the free gift items to be presented to the victors of sveral competitions and games. Malabar Gold & Diamonds demonstrated various offers/promotions and distributed its glittering flyers amongst all the gents and ladies present on the occasion. Mr. Shabeer (Malabar Gold) took the lead of this campaign.

Kadesiah Medical Center (KMC) Gubeirah, headed by Mr. Santhosh Shetty, conducted the free dental camp. Both gents and ladies utilized the facility. INDOMIE offered free noodles and eatables to the kids. Khader (Khozama) Deerah provided aromatic tea to all the audiences.

All the members of Panorama had showed their vibrant team spirit and vigor and were given a full of appreciations and regards by the people present on the occasion.

P.A. Hameed Padubidri, President; Ahmed M.Hussain, Ex-President of PANORAMA Dammam Unit; Abdul Rahman, Abdul Khader, Ex-Presidents; Abubakar (Raisco) & Niyaz P.K. Ismail- Vice- Presidents; Sarfraz A.H.(Tresurer), Khader Hejamady (Ex-Mr. Mangalore Awardee), Shaban Padubidri (Deerah), Farook Chabu Haji, Mohammed P.K. Mohiddin and others were on the go throughout the event and thanked all for their cooperation and coordination. The delicious dinner was served during this event.

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News Network
April 12,2025

Riyadh, April 12: In a welcome move for Indian expatriates and other foreign residents in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom has introduced a new online service that allows residents to update their passport information without visiting the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). The service is available through the widely used Absher platform.

This initiative comes as a major time-saver for Indian expats, especially those renewing their passports, as it eliminates the need for lengthy in-person appointments and physical document submissions at Jawazat offices.

Who Can Use the Service?

The online update feature is available to expatriates aged 18 and above. Once a passport is renewed, Indian expats can log in to Absher (via their employers account), navigate to My Services, select Passport, and then access Resident Identity Services to update the relevant information.

A clear photo of the new passport must be uploaded. The system automatically extracts the passport number and expiry date using advanced digital recognition tools.

Before submitting, users are required to pledge that:

  • The old passport has not been lost.
  • There are no reports of absence from work.
  • There are no pending traffic violations linked to the resident's Iqama.
  • There are no security-related restrictions on the expat or the employer.

Important for Indian Families

If family members previously listed on the old passport have been issued individual passports, the online service cannot be used. In such cases, a personal visit to Jawazat is necessary to complete the update.

Likewise, if the passport is lost, the expat must report the loss and update information directly at the Jawazat office. Any misuse or incorrect submission will result in accountability under Saudi law, including potential charges of forgery.

Fee Details

To avail this convenience, a nominal fee of SR69 (including VAT) is applicable for each passport update request.

Why It Matters

With over 2 million Indians living and working in Saudi Arabia, this digital service is expected to ease the bureaucratic burden and save time for thousands of individuals who previously had to navigate crowded offices and long wait times. It also enhances accuracy and ensures smoother processing for both employees and employers.

Indian community associations have welcomed the move, calling it a step forward in digital convenience and administrative efficiency for expatriates.

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News Network
April 15,2025

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Jeddah/Dammam, April 15: In a significant legal move, Saudi-based law firm International Justice has served a formal legal notice to Air India Express on behalf of passengers affected by the inordinate delay of Flight IX-886. The flight, originally scheduled to depart from Dammam to Mangaluru on 25 March 2025 at 22:10 hrs, was delayed by over 24 hours—causing severe inconvenience and hardship to passengers, many of whom included senior citizens, children, and individuals with medical conditions.

The legal notice, issued by noted Saudi lawyer and partner at International Justice Law Firm, Adv. Ms. Faten Faiz AlAhmari, outlines the distress and suffering endured by the stranded passengers due to the prolonged delay and lack of adequate assistance from the airline.

The initiative for legal escalation was spearheaded by P.A. Hameed Padubidri, a well-known Indian lawyer and social worker based in Saudi Arabia, who closely monitored the ordeal. Upon receiving numerous complaints and witnessing the passengers’ plight firsthand, he collaborated with Adv. Faten Faiz AlAhmari to ensure the matter was formally addressed through appropriate legal channels.

The legal notice outlines several key grievances:
    •    Unexplained delay and extended detention inside the aircraft
    •    Absence of proper accommodation or official communication
    •    Prolonged waiting hours at the airport without basic support or updates

The notice demands the following actions from Air India Express:
    1.    A formal written apology to all affected passengers
    2.    Full compensation for the physical, mental, and financial distress caused
    3.    A detailed explanation regarding the cause of the delay and preventive measures
    4.    Assurance of strict adherence to passenger rights in future operations

The airline has been given 15 days from the receipt of the notice to respond and take corrective action. Failing this, legal proceedings will be initiated in competent courts in both Saudi Arabia and India, with all financial liabilities resting on Air India Express.

This legal action comes amid rising public dissatisfaction over the handling of flight delays by international carriers, particularly those serving the Gulf-India sector.

Hameed Padubidri remarked: “We expected improved efficiency and passenger care from Air India Express after its acquisition by the Tata Group. However, the continued lapses and negligence—especially on Gulf routes—have deeply frustrated the Indian expatriate community. If the airline fails to respond, we will pursue the matter vigorously in both Saudi and Indian courts to ensure justice for the affected passengers.”

The case is now being closely watched by legal experts and passenger rights advocates, highlighting the pressing need for accountability, transparency, and humane treatment during travel disruptions.

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