ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Saudi Arabia on Thursday for pledging one billion dollars for the country's efforts to rehabilitate flood victims, acknowledging that Riyadh has always supported Islamabad in difficult times.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sharif and the UN secretary-general co-chaired a conference in Geneva to collect funds for Pakistan's rehabilitation and reconstruction attempts following the devastating 2021 floods.
The largest single-country contribution came from Saudi Arabia ($1 billion), followed by France ($384 million), the US ($200 million), China ($100 million), Germany ($94 million) and Japan ($77 million).
"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan values the assistance of one billion dollars announced by Saudi Arabia for the rehabilitation of flood-affected people," the state-run Radio Pakistan said. Sharif made these remarks as he met a four-member Saudi Fund for Development delegation in Islamabad before departing for the UAE.
"The Prime Minister thanked the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for extending support to Pakistan in this hour of difficulty," he added.
According to Radio Pakistan, both sides also reviewed different Saudi development projects in Pakistan.