Pakistan hospital to be built in honor of Saudi floods hero

Farman Ali Khan, a resident of Swat in northern Pakistan, lost his life after saving fourteen people from drowning in flood waters in Jeddah on Nov. 26, 2009. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

Residence of Farman Ali Khan, who had died in Saudi floods 2009 while saving others from drowning in the roaring waves. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

Farman Ali Khan was honored with the King Abdul Aziz Medal of the First Order in 2011. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

Umar Rehman, father of Farman Ali Khan says he is thankful to the Saudi government for honouring his son for his exemplary bravery. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

Umar Rehman, father of Farman Ali Khan says he thankful to the Saudi government for honouring his son for his exemplary bravery. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

A view of Khawza Khela, hometown of Farman Ali Khan, who had died in Saudi floods 2009 while saving others from drowning in the roaring waves. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

A view of Farman Ali Khan Shaheed mosque of Khawza Khela, which the Saudi charity organization, Al Nadwa Shabab Islami, has built to pay tribute to the hero of floods of 2009. (AN photo by Rafi Ullah)

• Crown prince has called for the establishment of a health care center in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
• Farman Ali Khan, a resident of Swat, saved 14 lives before drowning during the 2009 natural disaster in Jeddah

KARACHI: When 32-year-old Farman Ali Khan decided to save the lives of several people during the disastrous floods of 2009 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, little did he know that 10 years later he would be responsible for a gift that keeps on giving.
It all began in later November that year when Khan, a resident of the Swat Valley from Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province — who was working at a grocery store in the Kilo 13 district of Jeddah — tied a rope to his waist, jumped in the torrid waters and plucked 14 people to safety, before finally drowning in the incident.
He was posthumously awarded the King Abdul Aziz Medal of the First Order by the Saudi government in 2011 for his courageous act; while his family was given a cash reward of SAR500,000 at the King’s palace in Riyadh.
It doesn’t stop there. On Monday, a decade after Khan’s death, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has decided to pay it forward.
According to Saudi state-news agency, SPA, the Saudi royal —  who is in Pakistan on a two-day official visit — has issued orders for the establishment of a health care center in the province which will be named after Khan. 
His family’s happiness knew no bounds when they heard of the announcement. “We already owe much to the Saudi government. The announcement... to establish a health facility in the name of my son has further indebted us,” Umar Rehman, Khan’s father told Arab News by phone from his hometown of Swat.
Rehman said his son’s sacrifice has become a constant source of pride for his family, residents of Swat, and now Pakistan, too. “I am impressed with the crown prince’s way of [paying a] tribute. What can be best for a humanist person like my son than to establish a health facility in his name where poor people will be treated?” he said, adding that they were extremely thankful to the crown prince “for this great gesture.”
The directive has become a matter of pride for officials from the provincial government too.
“The announcement of a health facility in the name of Farman is not only a tribute to his gallantry, altruism and sacrificing his own life for saving others, but it also reflects the kindness and spirit of the crown prince... to take care of the needy ones,” Shaukat Yousafzai, KP Information Minister, told Arab News, adding that the crown prince has chosen a great way to pay a tribute. “Farman cared about others. This facility is about providing health care to many of his countrymen,” he said.
He added that the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad — which was built with millions of dollars provided by the late King Faisal — is a testament of the strong bond shared by the two countries. “...It’s a huge symbol of friendship. Likewise, when the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will see the health care center, it will remind them of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his great gesture of friendship,” he said.