Flashfloods: Shehbaz Sharif grateful to President Xi Jinping for enhanced assistance package

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday evening expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance package of 400 million RMB.

In a tweet, he mentioned that this was a reflection of unique bond of friendship between Pakistan and China. He observed that this support will help provide much needed relief to the people.

“Highly grateful to H.E. President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance package of RMB 400 million, up from initial RMB 100 million, for flood victims in Pakistan. This is a reflection of our unique bond of friendship. This support will help provide much needed relief to the people,” the PM tweeted.

Almost simultaneously, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed his gratitude to Chinese leadership and people for their relief assistance for flood victims in Pakistan.

In a tweet, he said this was another manifestation of “our unique relationship, the strength of which is reflected in such times of difficulty.”

“I express profound gratitude to Chinese leadership & ppl (people) for additional RMB 300 million relief assistance for flood victims in Pakistan. This is another manifestation of our unique relationship, the strength of which is reflected in such times of difficulty,” he wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, the Chinese Government announced to provide an additional flood relief materials worth RMB 300 million to Pakistan.

The announcement was made by the Chairman China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Luo Zhaohui, in a tweet shared by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon.

“At this difficult time when Pakistan is suffering from major floods, China shares the difficulties of Pakistan, and we are ready to support our iron brothers within our capacity,” the tweet added.

Importantly China had previously donated 100 million RMB worth of emergency relief supplies last week. The financial assistance was announced in a message delivered by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong to President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In the message, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang has expressed grief and solidarity with the Pakistani leadership and people over human and financial losses caused by floods in the country.

China announced an assistance grant of 100 million Yuan, besides the dispatch of 25,000 tents and other assistance items.

President Xi Jinping, in a message to President Dr Arif Alvi last week, observed that severe floods had occurred recently in Pakistan, causing heavy casualties and serious property losses.

President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, expressed deep condolences over the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families, the injured and the people in the affected areas.