Abu Dhabi: The education costs of the eight children left behind by one of the terror attack victims in the UAE will be borne by the victim’s employer, ADNOC, the Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE said in the capital on Thursday.
The family of the deceased Pakistani national, Mahmood Khan, will also receive salary compensation and service benefits, and will be able to benefit from job opportunities, Ambassador Afzaal Mahmood, confirmed to Gulf News at a media briefing at the Pakistan Embassy.
Khan, a driver, was 49 years old at the time of his death, and had worked in the UAE for 10 years before his untimely demise.
Two other Pakistani nationals who were injured in the Houthi terrorist attack on Abu Dhabi have, meanwhile, been treated and discharged from hospital, the diplomat said.
“The mortal remains of the deceased were expeditiously repatriated to Pakistan, with support from ADNOC, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Pakistani Embassy. Pakistan has also strongly condemned the terrorist attack, and stands in solidarity with the brotherly people and the government of the UAE,” Mahmood added.
Condolences and reassurances
The diplomat explained that he had been informed about the Pakistani attack victims by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC.
“Dr Al Jaber visited the injured Pakistani nationals in hospital before me, and he directly conveyed the information [about the victims] to me,” Mahmood said.
After the incident, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, spoke to Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also conveyed his condolences to Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistani Foreign Minister.
Message to the community
The top diplomat also called upon Pakistani expats in the UAE to continue feeling secure in the UAE.
“The UAE is their second home and they can [continue] feeling safe and secure. In addition, Pakistani nationals are visiting the UAE as tourists, as part of the business community and as part of official delegations,” Mahmood said.
Support for victims
ADNOC, with backing from the Government of Abu Dhabi, announced similar support for two Indian nationals – Hardev Singh and Hardeep Singh - killed in the January 17 Houthi terror attack. In a press briefing earlier this week, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, also thanked the care and attention for the victims, and urged Indian expats to continue working in the UAE with the same level of dedication.
