ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has announced a series of major public facilitation projects worth Rs. 4 billion, to rebuild the communities in Pakistan, affected by natural disasters, Pakistani state news agency reported on Tuesday.
Ksrelief Assistant Supervisor General of Operations Engineer Ahmed Ali Al-Baiz signed four different joint cooperation programmes with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), and State Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (SERRA) and formalized eight different contracts for public facilitation projects.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki, representative from NDMA, Chairman of PRCS, and representatives and country heads from different UN missions in Pakistan, were present on the occasion.
These programmes reflect KSRelief’s commitment to sustainable recovery and long-term development for communities affected by different natural disasters in Pakistan. These initiatives cover various sectors, including education, housing, health and disaster preparedness.
One of the major projects is the construction of the National Humanitarian Response Facility for NDMA, which will enhance its ability to store and distribute relief supplies during emergencies. In total, 1,000 permanent houses for families displaced by the 2022 floods, will be built in a bid to provide safe housing for around 7,000 individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Each house will have two rooms, a kitchen, and a washroom, ensuring a dignified living environment for the affected families.
In addition, KSrelief will also construct 300 Community Feeder Schools across Pakistan, especially in underserved areas like Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. These schools, equipped with green energy solar power and clean drinking water facilities, will benefit approximately 15,000 children, while indirectly helping over 100,000 people, including local communities and teachers. Upon completion, these schools will be handed over to the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), ensuring long-term management and sustainability.
KSrelief will also build four government schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir for SERRA, which were damaged by the 2005 earthquake.
Additionally, 22 critical facilities, including health centers, schools and water projects previously constructed by the King of Saudi Arabia after the 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods, will be renovated to improve access to education, clean water and healthcare.
From these programmes about 360,000 individuals directly and 690,000 individuals will be benefited indirectly. Through these comprehensive projects, KSrelief reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Pakistan.
