Saudi help sought for building 100-bed hospital

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday asked Saudi Red Crescent to help in building a 100-bed hospital in one of the earthquake-affected areas.
Talking to the President of Saudi Red Crescent, Dr Saleh Al Towairji who called on him along with a delegation of senior Saudi officials, he thanked the Saudi government for their financial, moral, physical help and for building an air bridge to send relief goods to Pakistan after the earthquake.
Saudi Arabia has scheduled seven flights to bring relief goods to Pakistan. The first flight arrived here on Thursday and the number is likely to rise.
Dr Saleh Al Towairji conveyed a message of solidarity and sympathy from the government and people of Saudi Arabia to the people and government of Pakistan.
He said the people of Saudi Arabia had been saddened by the tragedy and government and non-governmental organisations are collecting donations for Pakistan.
He said that so far about one billion Saudi Riyal had been provided to Pakistan directly and indirectly from the government and non-governmental sources of Saudi Arabia, including cash and in kind. He said a Saudi NGO was planning to set up an orphan house in Mansehra.