UAE gives fresh lease of life to Pakistanis hurt in terrorist attacks

Islamabad: People rendered disabled in bomb blasts and explosions in the former tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are now able to resume normal life and participate in daily work, thanks to the support of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM).

Sixty-one such Persons With Disabilities have so far been provided artificial limbs in the past few years. Most of them hail from the areas that were affected by terrorism and militancy in the past.

In order to acknowledge their resilience and to encourage them back to regular life, the UAE ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Al Zaabi invited them on Tuesday to the embassy where they thanked the embassy for its help.

Managing Director of the PBM, Malik Zaheer Abbas, was also present on the occasion.

In Tuesday’s ceremony, eight men and two women hailing from South Waziristan shared their stories about losing a leg, arm or a foot and the resultant change in life.

Then, they said, they were approached by the PBM through local administration and their dream to resume normal life became a reality.

Speaking on the occasion Ambassador Al Zaabi said Pakistan and the UAE enjoyed 50 years of diplomatic and brotherly relations.

“It’s a matter of pleasure and satisfaction to me for bringing these people back into active life,” he said.

Applauding the pro-poor services of the PBM, the UAE Ambassador vowed to strengthen links with the organization in serving humanity.

The people were also awarded financial support from the UAE envoy at the event.

Abbas expressed his gratitude to the UAE envoy to work jointly with the PBM for extending generous support to provide the artificial limbs.

Owing to tribal traditions, it was a challenge to convince the women to travel to Peshawar and agree to having artificial limbs, he said.

While briefing the media, Abbas said so far 61 people were disabled or paralysed as a result of episodes of bomb blasts and terrorism activities in North and South Waziristan over the past few years.

They have been provided artificial limbs, in collaboration with the UAE embassy and Prosthetic and Orthotic Science (PIPOS).

We look forward to supporting the people of Balochistan province as well under the flagship of Prime Minister’s Ehsaas Programme for resilient recovery of vulnerable people, he said.