Saudi Arabia has announced a relief package for the calamity-stricken Gwadar, where five people lost their lives and hundreds of houses were damaged due to heavy rains. Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Nawaf Bin Saeed Ahmad Al Maliky visited Balochistan and promised humanitarian aid for the residents of Gwadar.
“We stand with our Pakistani brothers during this difficult time,” stated the ambassador after meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. Nawaf Bin Saeed Ahmad Al Maliky announced the provision of 9,000 shelter camps and an equal number of ration packs for the affected inhabitants of Gwadar. He also expressed solidarity by speaking in Urdu and chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans while announcing the relief package for the province.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, praised Saudi Arabia for its assistance to the province. He emphasized that climate change is a pressing issue for all, highlighting that Gwadar experienced record rainfall this year. “We are making efforts to rehabilitate the victims,” Sarfraz Bugti added.
Previously, Gwadar was declared a calamity-stricken area following the heavy rains last month. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also visited the city, which was severely affected by the storms. Around 3,100 houses in Gwadar and 2,500 in Jiwani were destroyed, with 95 houses completely demolished and nearly 200 livestock killed. Government accommodations were provided for 355 individuals, while 800 were rescued and relocated to relatives’ homes. Additionally, the Pakistan Army and Navy set up hospital camps to provide healthcare to the casualties.
