The Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Ali Awadh Asseri, has presented gifts of dates, Zamzam water and copies of the Holy Quran to the children who were admitted to the Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH) after being injured in the October 8 earthquake.
The Principal of the Rawalpindi Medical College, Prof Musaddaq, and the RGH Medical Superintendent accompanied the Ambassador during his visit to different wards of the hospital.
Asseri visited all the injured children and gave them gifts. He kissed and hugged the younger children in presence of their elders. He spent an hour and a half inquiring about the patients' well-being at the RGH.
While presenting the gifts, the Ambassador told the children that it was from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who prays for alleviation of their sufferings.
"I am here to show the sympathy, love and affection for the injured on behalf of the Saudi government," Asseri told the reporters at the RGH.
"We will provide whatever Pakistan needs. Within a few hours of the quake, our team reached Pakistan to determine the requirements at this time of crisis," the Ambassador said.
Asseri said a 50-bed Saudi field hospital, specially flown to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia, which has 64 Saudi doctors and paramedics, has started operations in Mansehra. It will be moved to any area it is needed.
The Ambassador said he has received many phone calls from people of Saudi Arabia, who have prayed for the mitigation of the sufferings of the quake victims. "We feel your pain, sufferings, loss and agony. We are one nation."
Asseri said Saudi Arabia was transporting items to Pakistan that were really needed. "We have strong faith that we will overcome the tragedy very soon," he added.
King Abdullah, the Ambassador said, has instructed the Saudi Ministry of Finance to provide funds for building infrastructure in the quake devastated areas. "He is very concerned."
Asseri praised the prompt medical care being provided to the quake victims at the RGH and said the doctors and paramedics were performing a noble job.
