- Punjab CM congratulates King Salman and Crown Prince on Saudi Arabia’s National Day
- Calls defence pact with KSA a ‘shield for Muslim Ummah,’ condoles sad demise of Saudi Grand Mufti
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday congratulated the Saudi leadership and people on the Kingdom’s National Day, reaffirming Pakistan’s deep-rooted bonds with Saudi Arabia.
“On behalf of the people of Punjab, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” she said in her message. “Saudi Arabia is not just a friend of Pakistan, but a place of love and devotion for every Muslim.”
The chief minister said Pakistan’s defence agreement with Saudi Arabia had elevated bilateral ties, describing it as a “shield for the Muslim Ummah.” She expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for supporting Pakistan in difficult times, adding that the holy land was a symbol of faith, courage, and unity for Muslims worldwide.
Condolence on Grand Mufti’s demise
Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz also expressed deep sorrow over the death of Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Shaikh. She said delivering the highest number of Hajj sermons was his unique honour and noted that pilgrims would feel his absence for a long time.
Punjab CM’s Package for Flood Affectees
Separately, Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari highlighted the chief minister’s hands-on role in relief activities for flood-hit communities across the province. “There is no flood-affected area where the chief minister herself has not reached,” she said. “She has sat among victims like a worker, listening to their pain — reflecting a new style of governance.”
According to the minister, over 4.7 million people have been affected by the floods, including 2.6 million directly and 2.1 million livestock. A total of 27 districts and 4,794 villages along three rivers have been impacted, with 2,213 teams deployed for relief and rescue operations.
Announcing compensation measures, Azma Bokhari said farmers would receive Rs20,000 per acre, while homeowners would be provided Rs1 million for complete loss and Rs500,000 for partial damage. Additionally, Rs500,000 would be paid for the loss of cows and buffaloes. She underlined that all payments were being made from Punjab government resources without external aid.
She added that under the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme,” 80,000 houses were already under construction, with the number expected to reach 100,000 by December. To improve transparency and ease, “Relief Cards” would be introduced, enabling victims to receive assistance without standing in long queues.
The minister appreciated the cooperation of the federal government and NDMA in relief efforts, noting that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gillani had also acknowledged the CM’s performance.
She further linked the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence agreement to national dignity, terming criticism of it “unfortunate.” Azma Bokhari also stressed that the Punjab government was tackling environmental challenges, particularly smog, which she said was worsened by crop burning in Indian Punjab. “Our government believes in practical measures to address these issues,” she maintained.
