17 January 2005	Monday	06 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Jan 16: The Deputy Chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, has said the Al-Khidmat Welfare Society had so far contributed over Rs12.5 million relief goods and cash to the rehabilitation of the people of the tsunami-hit countries.

Prof Ghafoor, who was addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Sunday, recalled the devastation and severity of the tragedy, which had resulted in the deaths of about 200,000, and made thousands more homeless and go missing.

He said the relief goods included surgical instruments, medicines, drinking water, dry milk, bed sheets, blankets, clothes, bedlinen, quilts, edible items, and Rs3 million cash.

Besides, he said that a doctor's team of the Pakistan Islami Medical Association had also left for Indonesia to provide medical services. He expressed gratitude to the people and philanthropists of Karachi for extending cooperation to the Al-Khidmat, and hoped they would continue to extend more cooperation in relief activities.

Prof Ghafoor, who was flanked by the Secretary Al-Khidmat, Dr Tabassum Jafri, and Information Secretary Sarfraz Ahmad, said the Al-Khidmat Welfare Society had collected relief goods at 23 camps set for the purpose throughout the city.

He added that the Society had so far handed over five trucks loaded with relief goods and medicines on Jan 1 to the Sri Lankan Consulate in Karachi, while 10 trucks and two trailer vehicles with relief items worth Rs10 million, were handed over to the Indonesian Consul General in Karachi, Entjim Herrianto, on Jan 11.

He said the efforts for collection of relief goods were still on and another instalment would be handed over to the affected countries on Jan 18 and 19.