Saudi Arabia has dispatched five truckloads of relief goods for flood-affected families in seven districts of Punjab.
The consignment was handed over to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) by Chief Minister Maryam Naeaz Sharif and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Maliki in a ceremony in Lahore.
The chief minister was informed that the relief assistance provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre comprised 10,000 shelter kits and food packages to be distributed among flood-hit people in Kasur, Jhang, Multan, Chiniot, Khanewal, Toba Tek Singh and Hafizabad in collaboration with the PDMA, King Salman Relief Centre and Hayat Foundation.
Each food package weighing 95kg includes flour, sugar, gram lentils and cooking oil, while each shelter kit contains a tent, solar panel, LED lights, two thermal blankets, a plastic mat, a durable kitchen set, water cooler, antibacterial soap and other essential items.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her deep gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their timely and generous support. She highlighted that the aid provided by Saudi Arabia reflected a spirit of brotherhood and solidarity between the two nations. She underscored that the support extended by Saudi Arabia would be remembered as a symbol of solidarity with the flood-affected people at a critical juncture.
The chief minister discussed with the ambassador matters pertaining to the ongoing relief efforts, economic cooperation and the regional situation.
She appreciated the vision and empathy of the Saudi leadership, describing it as a guiding light for the whole Ummah, which has enabled them to tread on the path of progress and prosperity.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz noted that Saudi Arabia had once again stood by Pakistan in the time of need and difficulty.
She said the partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is not just strategic, but is deeply rooted in brotherhood and mutual trust. Economic cooperation between the two countries is increasing day by day.
Meanwhile, a large part of Gujrat city was cleared of floodwater. The chief minister directed the officials concerned to remain in the field till complete drainage of floodwater from Gujrat.
She noted that a crack in the protective dam of Madina Syedan is delaying the drainage. Water pooled in the area is being diverted towards the Halsi stream with the help of government machinery and local people.
She added that the relevant staff is trying to prevent more water from flowing into the city.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said separately that health services on a historic scale were being provided in the areas affected by the biggest flood in the history of Punjab.
An integrated programme has been initiated to look after the health of women and children in the flood-affected districts.
She was informed in a briefing that 968 clinics-on-wheels and medical relief camps had been established in flood-affected areas, where special arrangements had been made for the treatment of women and children. Doctors and allied staff are available for check-up of pregnant women in every flood relief camp, besides the availability of multivitamins, sanitary kits and other essential items.
A round-the-clock rural ambulance service is also available to transport pregnant women to Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics or hospitals in time.
Specialist doctors visit each camp daily for treatment of children and arrangements have been made for the vaccination of newborns in the relief camps.
Officials said arrangements had also been made for the treatment of insect bites, skin infections, stomach diseases, cholera and malaria in the relief camps. Sufficient quantities of ORS, antibiotics and other essential medicines are available in the camps, where facilities are also available for screening and treatment of children suffering from malnutrition, they added.
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