Islamabad, 06-December-2007: The Saudi government’s support in the aftermath of October 2005 earthquake is the personal initiative of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the custodian of the two holy places, who had deputed a mission in the form of Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV) in Pakistan which extended a record assistance to the quake afflicted people, especially students community.

Responding to the immediate needs of the earthquake-afflicted children, Dr Khalid Muhammad Al- Uthmani, Deputy Regional Director SPAPEV, Thursday handed over 300 tents to ensure schooling for the children of READ Foundation schools in remote and difficult locations in Muzaffarabad and Bagh Districts.

While speaking on the handing over ceremony Dr Khalid said that these tents are being supplied to 41 schools being run by the READ Foundation in Muzaffarabad and Bagh districts as the tents earlier provided to them were no more in usable condition and children were prone to the chilling winds. The tents provided to these schools are of good quality which will ensure safe schooling for more than 5000 students.

He assured that Saudi government will make every possible effort to provide permanent educational facilities and work on building of permanent facilities is in progress. “Efforts would be made to ensure all the related facilities to these children and SPAPEV would not leave the country unless our brethren resume the pre-earthquake life."

Chairman READ Foundation Mehmood Ahmed lauded the response of the Saudi Government for its timely cooperation and enabling the foundation in re-schooling of thousands of students in a short span of time. He said that the Saudi government stood by Pakistan in every tested time.

Counting the contributions of Saudi Government, M. Waseem Tariq, Project Officer READ Foundation informed that earlier SPAPEV had provided school bags and other aid supplies worth Rs40 million that facilitated 22,378 students of earthquake affected areas.