US, Saudi Arabia, WB, ADB top donors

ISLAMABAD—Saudi Arabia and the United States (USA) were the major contributors with the pledges of $573 million and $510 million respectively at the international donors conference held here on Saturday.
Both the countries also took initiative to mobilize their private sectors to collect funds and help the tens of thousands of people affected by the October 8 devastated earthquake. The American pledge includes $300 million in cash, $110 million sport in kind for relief operations, and $100 million in U.S. private contributions. The United States also raised its commitment to $156 million at the Geneva pledging conference. US President George W. Bush has formed a group of American business leaders and has given them the target of $100 million to help the quake-hit people. Chief executives of the five leading American companies are currently involved in an intensive fund-raising campaign in the United States. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was among the first high-level foreign leaders to visit Pakistan after the October 8 earthquake.—Agencies