ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Saudi Arabia has established an office of the Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV) to effectively handle the relief and rehabilitation activities of the quake survivors.

Inaugurating the office here on Wednesday, the Saudi Ambassador Ali S. Awadh Asseri said highly qualified and proficient Saudi personnel had been appointed to run the office.

He said the Saudis generous contributions in response to special appeal issued by Khadimul Harmain Sharifain King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz had made the setting up of SPAPEV possible.

The ambassador said the people from the SPAPEV would visit the areas affected by the earthquake on a regular basis to evaluate the needs of the people. Their needs would be immediately processed and relief provided without delay.

In the first phase, SPAPEV concentrated on the supply of emergency relief goods including tents, blankets, medicines and medical equipment to the quake affected people. These relief goods have already been delivered to the people in the AJK and the NWFP.

In addition to this, medicines worth Saudi Riyals 4 million have been donated to the Ministry of Health. SPAPEV has also sent sleeping bags, Korean blankets, and tents with galvanized iron sheets in the quake-hit areas.

In the second phase, SPAPEV is preparing a plan to build several model villages that would be constructed in the quake-hit areas in consultation with Erra. Each village would have 96 houses, two schools for boys and girls, hospital, mosque, market and two parks.

All this was in addition to the massive relief assistance that was being provided to the quake affected areas at the government level as well as relief work that was being done by the Saudi Red Crescent.

Talking about the immeasurable love and affection that Saudi people have for their Pakistani brothers and sisters, the Ambassador said: “The establishment of the office of SPAPEV also reflects the irrevocable commitment of the Saudi people to the welfare and well being of their Pakistani brothers and sisters. We were the first ones to come to help the people here and will remain here as long as there is need for the same.”

Asseri expressed the hope that the everlasting bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the leadership, the governments and the people of Saudi Arabia would continue to grow at a rapid pace in the future. He also prayed for the early rehabilitation of all those who had suffered as a consequence of the earthquake.

Chief coordinator, AJK, Federal Relief Commission, Tariq Khosa also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, SPAPEV, Regional Director Abdullah Mosaed Al Anqari received the Saudi Ambassador. Abdullah Anqari briefed the Saudi Ambassador about the working of the office. Deputy Regional Director Dr. Khalid M Al-Othmani, and Director Bandar Qublan Al Ajmi were also present on the occasion.