https://arab.news/we9d9
- The kingdom’s envoy to Pakistan calls the initiative a gift from the Saudi king and the crown prince
- Saudi Arabia has always helped Pakistan in the aftermath of natural disasters, says NDMA official
ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) launched a $300,000 food bag project on Thursday to help the people of Sindh who have been facing food shortages since the recent floods in the province.
“Under the food relief project, more than 7,000 food bags will be distributed among the families who were facing food security issues due to the recent floods in the province of Sindh,” Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki told Arab News at the project’s inauguration ceremony in Islamabad.
He said that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan enjoyed close relations and the kingdom had always stood by Pakistan in difficult times.
“Pakistan is very dear to both King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This [food relief project] is a gift from them to the people of Pakistan,” the Saudi envoy said, adding that KSRelief would launch another humanitarian project very soon.
KSRelief has provided humanitarian and development assistance to millions of beneficiaries in more than 54 countries. Pakistan is its fifth-largest aid recipient, having benefitted from more than $120.4 million of relief since 2005.
“The project will benefit about 50,000 people,” Dr. Khalid Al-Othmani, Director KSRelief Pakistan, told Arab News.
This November 12, 2020, picture shows food packages that will be distributed among the people of Sindh who have been facing food shortages since the recent flood in their province. (AN photo)
The food bags will be distributed in seven districts of Sindh, including Sanghar, Badin, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, and Tharparkar, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and a private local organization.
“The beneficiaries will be selected with the help of the government. Each bag contains 20 kilograms of flour and 5 kilograms each of rice, cooking oil, sugar and pulses. They also include 950 grams of black tea,” Al-Othmani added.
“These food bags will provide invaluable support to families in Sindh,” Idrees Mahsud, who is affiliated with the NDMA, told Arab News.
He said Saudi Arabia had always helped Pakistan, adding that KSRelief had been very active since the last one and a half decade.
“Saudi Arabia has remained among Pakistan’s largest supporters and has helped the country in the aftermath of previous disasters, such as the 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods, as well,” he added.