By IRNA,
New Delhi : Willing to provide more assistance to flood hit Pakistan, India on Friday welcomed Pakistan’s decision to accept its $ Five Million aid offer for flood relief in the country.
Pakistan’s decision to accept the aid came nearly a week after the offer was made by External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna, to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi last Friday.
“We welcome the decision of Pakistan to accept the aid offer,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Vishnu Prakash, told reporters, describing the offer as goodwill gesture made to express solidarity with the people of Pakistan, who have been hit by the worst floods in 80 years.
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, had called up Pakistani premier, Yousuf Raza Gilani, on Thursday and said India was willing to provide more assistance in handling flood relief, Prakash said.
Qureshi, who is in New York to attend a special meeting of the United Nations on flood situation in his country, had said that Pakistan accepted India’s offer of $ five million in aid for flood relief, pti reported.
“I can share with you that the Government of Pakistan has agreed to accept the Indian offer (of USD 5 million aid),” Qureshi had said.
Qureshi thanked Singh, his government and Krishna for this “very positive” gesture of extending aid and said it was highly appreciated by Pakistan.
Flood in Pakistan began in July 2010 after heavy monsoon rains affected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab as well as parts of Baluchistan.
At least 2,000 people have been killed and more than 722,000 homes have been badly damaged or totally destroyed.
The United Nations estimates over 20 million people are suffering with over 160,000 square kilometers (One Fifth of Pakistan) affected as a result of the flooding.