Pakistan govt supporting China in quake relief efforts: Sherry

ISLAMABAD : Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman Tuesday said that the Pakistan government was supporting China in its efforts for provision of rescue and relief to its earthquake victims. She was talking to media persons on the occasion of seeing off a mobile surgical team comprising Pakistani doctors and paramedics.
Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt-Gen (Retd) Farooq Ahmed Khan was also present on the occasion.
The relief goods have been sent on special directives of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The Minister said that government and people of Pakistan were deeply shocked by the severe earthquake which hit China’s Sichuan province on May 12.
She said the loss of life and property was colossal, posing a daunting challenge of relief and rehabilitation for the Chinese government.
The Minister said both countries have stood by each other in times of trial and Pakistan is grateful to the Government of China for accepting its offer of relief goods, which were dispatched to China as a token of “our feeling for the Chinese brothers.”
She said Pakistani’s assistance is a humble contribution and an effort to support its time-tested friend in its hour of need.
Sherry Rehman said that medial mission would augment medical relief activities for the affected people in the earthquake-hit areas in China.
Pakistan has also sent relief goods earlier and it is ready to contribute more if the Chinese government required more help, she said.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui thanked the government and people of Pakistan for showing solidarity and support by sending medical mission besides relief goods.
He expressed his gratitude over the provision of 22,000 tents by Pakistan and welcomed the decision by the Government to send the medical team to China for relief and rehabilitation.
Before this flight Pakistan had dispatched 21,260 tents, 500 blankets, 1000 plastic mats, three tons of bottled water and four tons of medicines.
A total of four C-130 flights, five 747 cargo flights and 18 containers by road have been dispatched to China so far.