Pakistan PM awards Rs2.5m to excavator driver for rescuing family stranded in flood

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday awarded Rs2.5 million to an excavator operator who had rescued a family stranded during the flood in Qila Abdullah, Balochistan.

Shahbaz Sharif, who invited the rescuer Mohibullah to the Prime Minister’s House, appreciated his courage to save the stranded family while risking his own life, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

In August, a vehicle trapped in a flood surge in the Kolk River was rescued by Mohibullah, who risked his life to rescue seven people from the vehicle.
"The whole nation including me feels proud of you. I deeply adore your love for humanity,” the prime minister said. "You are a nation’s hero as you showed the courage to save human lives.”

He said that Mohibullah had fulfilled the national responsibility by rescuing the stranded people without caring about his own life.

FREE EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE FOR HIS FAMILY

Besides awarding Rs2.5m, the prime minister also announced free education up to university level for Mohibullah’s children and free healthcare for his family.

"This an honor for me to meet the prime minister of Pakistan. I never thought so. While rescuing the stranded family, I never knew that the act would get that much popular countrywide,” Mohibullah said in the meeting.

He also thanked the prime minister for acknowledging his gesture and honouring him by inviting him to the Prime Minister’s House.

Some members of the federal cabinet were also present. They lauded Mohibullah for his heroic effort to rescue the family.