Chinese firm donates $900,000 to quake victims
From Max Lee
The Daily Mail’s
Special Correspondent in Beijing

BEIJING—A Chinese company Hutchison Whampoa Limited and the Li Ka Shing Foundation in Hongkong have announced donation of US$500,000 to Pakistan for relief efforts. China North Industries Corporation announced a donation of $300,000 to assist in relief operation. Ministry of Defense has also donated US dollar 100,000 in cash in emergency humanitarian aid to Pakistan for the rescue operations. This is in addition to $ 6.2 million emergency aid already announced by the Chinese government.
A senior Chinese official told APP that the Chinese government and the people are prepared to offer more aid to help their Pakistani friends, in hour of their trial and tribulation. All the relevant departments have been advised to help the earthquake’s victims. So far, four Chinese special aircraft carrying relief goods have reached Pakistan. The Chinese Commerce Ministry has planned to send more relief goods within next few days.
Chinese top leadership President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao are personally taking care of the relief support, that need to be provided to Pakistan on urgent basis. Special aircraft will be taking relief goods to Pakistan on regular basis during the next few days. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held special meeting with Pakistan’s ambassador Salman Bashir on Monday to know latest developments, following the massive earthquake.
Wen said the disaster has touched the hearts of the Chinese people. “ We are willing to provide all possible assistance for the disaster relief and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan”. Meanwhile, sources said here that a Chinese rescue team rescued two people from under the rubble of a collapsed house in Balakot, a village in the northwestern frontier province of Mansehra, which was levelled by the Saturday’s earthquake, officials said in Beijing.
Forty-one injured also received medical treatment at Chinese rescue camps in Balakot, according to team director Peng Bibo. The 49-member Chinese team arrived at Balakot on Monday afternoon as the only rescue team in the village. They brought with them six sniffer dogs, eight tons of rescue equipment and nine tons of relief supplies.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said that the Chinese Government is implementing a US$6.2 million aid programme. The Ministry of Commerce sent to Pakistan 149 additional tonnes of relief materials yesterday, including generators, tents, food, medicine, medical equipment and water purifiers, valued US$2.96 million.