ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah Khalid Majid on Saturday thanked Saudi Arabia for its “immense help and support” as the South Asian country bears the brunt of catastrophic floods that have killed over 1,500 and displaced hundreds of thousands since mid-June.
Saudi Arabia, which enjoys brotherly relations with Pakistan, has provided relief items for Pakistan’s flood victims. Riyadh’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Friday launched a campaign to provide assistance to Pakistan by establishing an air bridge for relief operations in the flood-hit country.
Two aircraft, carrying humanitarian aid from the kingdom, landed in Karachi earlier this week as Pakistan struggles to provide relief to people impacted most by flash floods triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains.
According to data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), floods have damaged 1.8 million homes, damaged roads and destroyed nearly 400 bridges in Pakistan since June 14. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), floods have killed at least 528 children and impacted 16 million others.
“He [Majid] commended the government of Saudi Arabia for its immense help and support to Pakistani flood victims and urged participants to contribute generously to the KSA relief fund,” Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Jeddah said in a statement.
Pakistani performers enthrall the audience at the Saudi Arabian Society of Art and Culture in Jeddah. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Consulate General Jeddah)
The Pakistani diplomat was addressing a cultural event at the Saudi Arabian Society of Art and Culture. The event was organized to strengthen Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s relationship and to showcase the rich culture and heritage of both countries.
“High-profile diplomats, leading Pakistani and Saudi entrepreneurs, a cross-section of Pakistani and Saudi community members, and representatives from Saudi and ethnic media were present on the occasion,” the statement said.
Mohammed Al-Subaih, Director General of the Saudi Arabian Society of Art and Culture, who was also the chief guest, praised the strong bond between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and also “expressed his deep concern over the recent floods in Pakistan and the resulting casualties from them.”
“He [Al-Subaih] said that as a representative of the Saudi Arabian Government; I assure Saudi Arabia will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan and extend all kinds of support to come out of this crisis,” the statement read.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki said the kingdom would assess flood damages through KSrelief and would send hundreds of trucks next week loaded with humanitarian assistance, to flood-hit areas through the NDMA.
