ISLAMABAD: Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims, a Saudi relief organization working in Pakistan since October 8 , 2005 has provided 2.0 million US dollar flour bags to World Food Program authorities for onward distribution in quake hit areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP. huge quantity of flour bags were purchased and handed over to WFP for distribution among quake survivors.

Talking to newsmen at Mansehra after distribution of flour bags among victims of Shinkiari, and other adjacent areas, Media Director, Saudi Public Assistance For Pakistan Earthquake Victims, Ibrahim Homaily said that the Saudi Relief Organization was established specially for quake hit victims to help mitigate their sufferings. Recently, the organization has provided 0.7 million US dollar school material to Read Foundation schools running in AJK hit areas. At least 22,000 schools children including girls and boys upto matric level were provided bags, stationery books, two set of uniforms for each student and other essential material used for educational purposes.

The Media Director said that his organization (SPAPEV) so far had distributed over 1000 relief goods loaded trucks worth millions of riyals among the quake-affectees of Bagh, Muzaffarabad Mansehra, Balakot, and other areas damaged by the south asian devastating earthquake. The SPAPEV had handed over these loaded trucks of relief goods containing tents, blankets, quilts, G.I.Sheets, food packets, stoves, medicine and other essential items soon after the earthquake to many welfare organizations including Al-Hubaib Foundation, International Islamic Relief Organization, World Assembly for Muslim Youth, ERRA, NWFP and AJK governments and several other relief organization.

The SPAPEV was working in Pakistan under the directives of Saudi Leadership, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, supervision of Prince Naif, Saudi Interior Minister, and guidance of Advisor to Interior Minister, Dr. Saad Al-Harithy who is also the Chairman of the organization. The Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan is also supporting the organization’s all projects including reconstruction projects being completed in the earthquake stricken areas of Pakistan. Currently, the Saudi organization is engaged in building houses for displaced families of Balakot and so far, some 1800 pre-fabricated houses have been constructed in the area. The work on remaining 2200 houses are in progress and to be completed shortly, he said. The displaced families of the area would shortly be provided keys of their pre-Fab houses so that they could continue their normal lives there, Ibrahim said.