Dubai, Sept. 30th, 2010 (WAM) -- Pakistan is extremely grateful to the leadership of United Arab Emirates for standing beside Pakistani people in the worst floods of the countrys history, said Khursheed Ahmad Junejo, Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE.
In his statement issued here in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistan Ambassador on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan thanked President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.H. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the people of the UAE for their continued support and relief efforts for Pakistan's flood victims. He said that Pakistan and the UAE are more than just friends and we have the same faith and social fabric. He highly appreciated UAEs role in aiding flood victims in Pakistan. He also thanked UAE Red Crescent Authority, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation for raising substantial amount as aid for the flood ravaged country. He also paid rich tributes to the long-standing relationship between the UAE and Pakistan and appreciated the ideal environment that had been created by the visionary leadership of the UAE. The Ambassador said that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have already appreciated and praised UAEs unlimited support and efforts to alleviate suffering of the people affected by the floods. He quoted UN's High Commission for Refugees and said that current flooding in Pakistan is the greatest natural disaster of modern times with the population affected greater than those of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, the 2005 Pakistani earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined. He noted that UAE nationals and other communities living in UAE had come forward and helped the victims of the floods with great generosity, which will never be forgotten. The Ambassador also lauded the efforts of UAE Armed forces in rescuing more than 10,000 people. Khursheed Junejo said that the Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani has also hailed role of UAE Relief force in setting up air bridge between regions to implement the rescue operations for evacuating victims from the flooded areas. The UAE Force also provided logistic support to evacuate flood victims into safe locations and to deliver immediate relief assistance to far flung areas. He said that Pakistan army also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the UAE relief force and its efficiency in coordinating relief missions, and taking logistical and supervisory positions. He said that people of Pakistan also hold in high esteem, the continued support of the UAE leadership, government and the people to help the flood victims. "Now that the flood waters have receded, a more gigantic task of rehabilitating the 20 million displaced floods affectees will start. This is a challenge which Pakistan can only undertake with the support of the international community and friends like UAE. He hoped that the government and the people of UAE will continue to support the government and the people of Pakistan in the same way they helped during the first phase of rescue operations", he concluded.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.
