ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: The Saudi government is distributing over 100,000 blankets and quilts, in equal numbers, among the earthquake-affected people of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir this winter.

This was stated by Dr Khalid M. Othmani, deputy regional director of Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV), in an informal exchange

with reporters, adding that the relief work would continue till everyone is completely rehabilitated.

“We are dispatching over 50,000 blankets and the same number of quilts, at a cost of two million rupees to the quake-hit areas of AJK to keep the quake victims warm,” he said.

He said the Saudi government had organised SPAPEV soon after the October 8, 2005 earthquake and a relief office was established here to facilitate people of the quake-ravaged areas.

The organization had dispatched relief goods worth millions of riyals to quake affected areas since then, Dr Othmani told newsmen.

The organisation had also given goods worth four million riyals to various NGOs and international organizations, like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Unicef, both of which were given two million dollars each.

“When crops were destroyed in NWFP during the last monsoon season, SPAVEV dispatched a convoy of relief goods to the affected areas, including Charsada,” he said.

In addition, temporary shelters and school bags were provided to the children of Kotli Satian and Murree, at a cost of Rs0.5 million, so that their education did not suffer.

Replying to a question, Dr Othmani said SPAPEV had signed a 16.7 million dollar contract for constructing pre-fabricated houses, a few months ago. These houses were due to be completed before the current winter season but was facing delay.

“Now all technical problems have been removed and the houses would be provided to quake affected families in couple of months, he hoped.”

He informed that the humanitarian organisation was working under the guidance of King Abdullah and direct supervision of Prince Naif, the Saudi Interior Minister, Advisor Saad Al Arabi and the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Ali Awadh Asseri.

Dr Othmani emotionally added, “every Saudi person’s heart beats with their Pakistani brethren and the ties between the two brotherly countries would strengthen in the days to come.”

The media and finance directors of the organisation, Ibrahim Homaily and Hamad Ibrahim Al-Hamad, respectively, were also present on the occasion.