‘We are all- weather friends of Pakistan’
Rizwan Haider
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdulah M. Al-Zahrani said that Saudi Arabia would stand by the people of Pakistan in hour of grief and sorrow.
He was speaking in a press conference on Thursday held to unveil the project completion and new projects launching ceremony for Pakistani people affected by natural disaster and Afghan refugees. He said the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Saudi people will always stand by their brothers in Pakistan and take this friendship to new heights. “We were friends and brothers yesterday, today and would remain friends forever”. “Our relations with Pakistan are distinct and it is an honor for us to be in a position to extend our support to our Muslims brother in Pakistan in their hard times,” the Saudi Ambassador added.
While mentioning the completion of humanitarian project costing over dollar 20 million, he thanked the cooperation they received from ministry of State and Frontier region, National Disaster Management Authority, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, provincial governments and various organizations of United Nation in Pakistan. According to detail, 2000 houses were built for flood victims, 14000 in Sindh, 300 in Punjab and 300 in KPK with the cost of 12 million US dollar. 226 projects for the provision of clean drinking water including hand pump, water filtration plants and tube wells were installed with the cost of 5.4 million US dollar. 400 houses and six government schools for earthquake victims in district Bagh and Jammu Kashmir were constructed with the cost of 2.6 million dollars.
He also said that in future projects of worth 60 million dollars would be completed. While giving details of the projects, he announced the second phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects worth dollar 60 million to provide all necessary facilities to people living in difference districts of Pakistan that effected by natural calamity. The projects include 3000 houses for flood victims, more than 200 water projects, 40 schools, 25 health facilities and rehabilitations of several mosques. Ambassador Al-Zahrani further said time bears testimony that Saudi Arabia has proved itself an all- weather friend of Pakistan. He assured the government and the people of Pakistan that this time- tested friendship is destined to strengthen further in years ahead.
Minister for State and Frontier Region Lt (R) Abdul Quadir Baloch was the chief guest at the occasion; he lauded the efforts of Saudi Arabia for rehabilitation work of needy people in Pakistan who are affected by natural calamities. He expressed his deep gratitude to Saudi government for its generous support to the effected people. He hoped that Saudi government will come forward to enhance its functional assistance for the rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons.
Chairman NDMA Maj General Asghar Nawaz also appreciated Saudi Arabia for generous assistance provided to the victims of earthquake and floods.