ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has launched a major humanitarian initiative to distribute winter kits for more than 150,000 Pakistanis in 26 districts as part of its annual winter support program for vulnerable communities, the charity announced on Monday.

The initiative was launched at an event at the Saudi embassy in Islamabad, which was attended by Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki.

KSrelief will distribute 22,000 winter kits in coldest Pakistani districts as part of the initiative, according to the charity. Each kit includes two polyester quilts, a set of warm shawls for men and women, and warm clothing for both children and adults.

Speaking at the ceremony, Yousaf thanked Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for expressing their unconditional love for the Pakistani people through this project.

“King Salman Relief Center is active all around the world in humanitarian activities, including Pakistan,” the minister said. “These kinds of measures are bringing the people of two countries further close.”

The Saudi charity has launched numerous projects across Pakistan in food security, health, education and disaster response in recent years, deepening the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.

The winter kits will be distributed in regions affected by harsh winter conditions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as selected areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces that experience low temperatures, according to KSrelief.

“To ensure transparency, coordination, and effective implementation, the project will be implemented in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department (RRSD) KP, Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), local authorities, and Hayat Foundation,” the charity said.

“Through this coordinated effort, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 154,000 individuals, reaffirming KSrelief’s commitment to alleviating winter-related hardships and improving the well-being of vulnerable populations across Pakistan.”