Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri in a message on Eid-ul-Fitr said that this year the people of Pakistan were struggling to cope with the after-effects of October 8 earthquake that caused over 55,000 deaths and uprooted hundreds of thousands from their hearth. The Ambassador on behalf of Saudi leadership, the government and the people expressed "deepest sense of shock on this natural disaster and the immense suffering that it has caused."
Asseri said, "I would also like to extend an assurance that every Saudi stands together with the people of Pakistan in this hour of trial and we will do every thing possible to alleviate the suffering and pain that this tragedy has caused."
He said the custodian of the two holy mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and the Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz were personally spearheading a nation-wide campaign to collect donations for long-term rehabilitation of displaced people.
On this Eid ul Fitr, he said, "let's all make a genuine effort to share our happiness with those who are suffering. We can do so by visiting them at their homes, or at the hospitals where they are undergoing treatment, or at the makeshift relief camps where they have been lodged temporarily."
He said a word of solidarity, a syllable of affection and love would mean so much to them.
"They are left with nothing. We have to fill up their lives and there would be nothing more meaningful than to spend a little time with them and to let them know that they are not alone in this hour of suffering."
Addressing the Pakistani nation he said, "your pain is our pain. We suffer when you suffer. You are not alone in this tragedy. Every Saudi shares your grief and sorrow and will stand with you through this difficult time."
He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant a place in heaven to all those who died and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.
"Let's pray to Allah that He, in His absolute benevolence, may overlook our shortcomings and mistakes. Let's pray to Allah that He may shower his mercy and compassion on us and protect us from any grief in future. Let's pray to Allah that He may rekindle in us the hope and give us the courage to restart our lives. Let's pray to Allah to be our protector and our guide. May Allah Almighty bless you all," the Saudi envoy said.