By IINA,
Beijing – Jamad Al Awwal 21 1429/ May 26, 2008 – A mobile field hospital along with a team of doctors comprising orthopedic surgeons and paramedic from Pakistan is due here tomorrow to provide medical assistance to the affected people of May 12 devastating earthquake, said Pakistan’s Charge d’Affairs Abdul Salik Khan here today. As many as 28 doctors and paramedical staff will reach Lanzhou tomorrow to participate in the relief efforts, Salik Khan said at a media briefing here, which was also addressed by Mrs. Taranum Salman Bashir, wife of Pakistan Ambassador to China and now Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, APP reported. He pointed out that Pakistan is among the few countries whose offer of medical assistance has been accepted by the Chinese Government for which we are very much thankful.
Apart from Pakistan’s efforts to contribute towards the relief assistance in terms of goods and monetary help, the Embassy of Pakistan is also organizing a Fundraiser Bazaar for the victims of Sichuan Earthquake on Saturday at the Embassy premises, he said. Salik Khan also gave details of the relief goods and monetary assistance the government and people of Pakistan have so far provided. He said that on the instructions of the Government and particularly from Ambassador Salman Bashir, who has special attachment with China, the Embassy here is holding a series of activities for relief assistance to mitigate the sufferings of Chinese people. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Taranum S. Bashir said that the people and government of Pakistan are fully behind the people of Sichuan who were enduring great difficulties following May 12 devastating earthquake.
“The Pakistani people standby with the Chinese people in this difficult time and ready to provide all kinds of assistance”, she said. She highly appreciated efforts of Chinese leadership in effectively handling the situation after the earthquake. “We are sure that the great Chinese nation will overcome this situation”, she said. She pointed out that President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani visited Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to express their concern over the death and damage caused to the people of Sichuan which is also the sister of our Province of Punjab. Mrs. Taranum Bashir said that Pakistan is also sharing its experience of handling the 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir and NWFP with the Chinese side adding that Pakistan Earthquake and Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) will extend all possible assistance to the Chinese relief and reconstruction activities.