JEDDAH: The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has built 600 houses for the victims of last year's floods in Pakistan. Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC, launched the first 100 houses in the Punjab region recently. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who welcomed the OIC's assistance. Besides Prime Minister Gilani, several other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Ihsanoglu said the first 100 residential units were constructed from donations contributed by OIC staff, in addition to financial aid from Cameron and Guyana. Ihsanoglu met with some of the beneficiaries of the houses. Ihsanoglu said the OIC wanted to offer all kinds of support – in kind and cash – from Islamic countries and civil societies to help Muslims all over the world affected by natural disasters. He said OIC member states and some civil society institutions have responded to the call to help Pakistan. Some countries have already given Pakistan one million dollars. There was also an initiative to secure $600 million, of which the Kingdom had already contributed SR250 million. Apart from this, the Kingdom had sent shipments of relief goods in the wake of the floods.
