China to provide additional aid of $561,730 for Quake-hit areas of Pakistan
PakistanTimes.net Special Report

BEIJING (China): China will provide additional emergency supply of tents, blankets and stoves worth dollar 561,730 to help quake's victims in Pakistan.

"Given the emergency of the disaster relief effort, China commits to deliver this batch of goods within one week ... to the people in need," it was officially stated here Thursday.

"Moreover, the Chinese government, in line with the actual need of the disaster area, will shortly announce further assistance measures to Pakistan, which will include additional grant through bilateral channel.

On the next day of the earthquake, the Chinese government announced to provide Pakistan with cash and goods worth 6.2 million dollars. At this moment, all the emergency supplies have arrived in Pakistan. Now, the emergency relief goods will be airlifted to Pakistan on daily basis, through special cargo flights, the sources added.

Chinese PM outlines 5-Point Plan

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Moscow, while describing relations between Pakistan and China as all-weather friendship, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao outlined a five-point plan for the rescue and relief efforts for the earthquake victims. "We believe that under the Pakistani leadership the people will be able to overcome this catastrophe," Wen Jiabao said.

He extended an additional financial assistance of around US 14 million dollars for immediate rescue and relief measures for Pakistan, raising the total assistance to over US 20 million dollars.
The amount of financial assistance is besides the relief goods comprising tents, blankets, medicines, food, medical and relief teams sent earlier.

Medical Team

The Chinese Premier said a second medical team would be arriving in Pakistan on Friday to provide treatment to thousands of injured due to the worst earthquake that hit the country in a century.
He said his country would send a fact-finding team to assist Pakistan in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the quake affected areas. China would also help Pakistan set up a modern seismic monitoring centre and provide latest equipment.

Apart from this, China will help train Pakistan to set up a National Rescue and Disaster Management Authority to cope with such calamities. He said China would support Pakistan in every possible way to help it handle the situation following the earthquake.

Aziz Thanks

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz thanked the Chinese premier for his support and said Pakistan was facing a unique and unprecedented situation. He briefed him about the extent of damages and how the government was coping with the tragedy.

He said Pakistan-China strategic cooperation and friendship were a source of strength for every Pakistani. He said China always stood by Pakistan in its hour of need and Pakistan was proud of its friendship with China.

He also informed him about the international donors conference to be held in Pakistan on Nov 18 to seek greater assistance for the people affected by the earthquake.

Chinese premier recalled his visit to Pakistan and said the warm welcome accorded to him was a manifestation of the strong relations between the two countries.

He said every Chinese house has felt the pain of sufferings of the Pakistani people due to the devastating earthquake and reiterated his country's full support to Pakistan withstand the after-effects of this catastrophe.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and global issues, with a regional perspective.●