Pakistan's FM seeks more help from Gulf
PakistanTimes.net Staff Report

KUWAIT CITY: Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri visited Kuwait on Sunday as part of a Gulf tour to seek more aid for victims of the massive quake which hit Pakistan in the first week of the last month, the state Kuna news agency reported.

Kasuri’s trip aims at efforts for increased assistance following the October 8 earthquake, Kuna said. Kasuri came from Saudi Arabia, where he met King Abdullah on Saturday.

Gulf Arab states have pledged millions of dollars in aid and airlifted large amounts of relief assistance for survivors of the devastating quake.

Saudi Arabia announced an emergency aid package worth $133mn to help rebuild infrastructure in Pakistan, while Kuwait and the UAE pledged $100mn each.

Drive for Funds

Saudi Arabia launched a drive last week to raise funds for quake victims and its official news agency reported Sunday that a first consignment of aid donated by the Saudi public left Riyadh headed for the Gulf port of Dammam for shipment to Pakistan.

More than 60,000 people have been confirmed dead in Pakistan and more than threemn have been left homeless by the 7.6 magnitude quake.

The UN secured aid pledges worth more than half a billion dollars at an emergency conference in Geneva on Wednesday last.●