ISLAMABAD: Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League, on Saturday launched a campaign for the relief of flood-stricken Pakistani people, which aims to ensure food, housing and health needs of tens of thousands of affectees.
Unprecedented rains and subsequent floods have killed at least 1,700 people and affected more than 33 million in Pakistan since the beginning of monsoon season in mid-June.
Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis have since been forced to live in temporary shelters and in the open, braving vector- and water-borne diseases with little to no food as large swathes of the South Asian country still remain submerged under floodwaters.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif receives Muslim World League Secretary General Mohammed Al-Issa at the Government Palace in Islamabad on October 8, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Muslim World League)
The Muslim World League secretary-general arrived in Pakistan on Thursday on an expanded tour to review the condition of those affected by the floods in a number of cities and villages.
On Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed Dr Al-Issa, who is also the chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, and the accompanying delegations at his office in Islamabad.
"We highly appreciate the delegations of the Association in this difficult circumstance that our country is going through," PM Sharif said.
"I proudly follow your efforts, and we thank you for your great role in bringing together the nation’s scholars and highlighting the true face of Islam."
Dr Al-Issa launched the campaign for flood affectees in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
"We are proud of the performance of our Islamic and humanitarian duty towards our brothers, which represents the compassion and affection of Muslims among themselves," the visiting dignitary said.
The Muslim World League secretary-general thanked the prime minister for the generous reception and hospitality accorded to him by Pakistan and its people.
Apart from PM Sharif, the Muslim World League secretary-general met a number of Pakistani officials, including Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor, and delivered Friday sermons at a number of mosques.
In his meeting with the Pakistani religious affairs minister, the two sides discussed a number of issues related to Islamic affairs and humanitarian work in the region as well as prospects for bilateral cooperation.
Shakoor lauded the role of the Muslim World League in serving Islamic causes, resolving the issues of Muslim minorities around the world and the centrality of its efforts to promote unity among Muslims, representing the true message of Islam abroad.
The Muslim World League is an International Islamic NGO based in Makkah that aims to spread the true message of Islam and advance moderate values that promote peace and tolerance.
Dr Al-Issa will be in Pakistan until October 14.
