November 10, 2005	Thursday	Shawwal 7, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: A 32-member Sikh delegation from the US and Canada on Tuesday visited the cinema-turned-hospital in Melody Market and enquired after the injured.

The delegation headed by Rajpal Singh Rana presented Rs200,000 to the organizer, Inayatullah Khattak, for the medical care of the injured. The Sikh community in Canada and the US has already deposited $25,000 to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Rana said they had not come to Pakistan just to donate cash for the quake victims. We have crossed the Wagah border to reveal to the world that geographical boundaries cannot divide the hearts of the people living on both sides of the Line of Control, he added.

Responding to a question, he said the funds collection campaign in the US did not gain momentum possibly because of the gap created between the Muslims and the West after the tragic 9/11 incident.

He said the US nationals were not seen active in generating relief assistance for the quake survivors despite the request of the Pakistan government.

Tarlok Singh Sindhu said the Sikh community in the UK and Canada would launch a campaign to collect funds for the rehabilitation of the quake survivors.

Earlier, the hospital administration briefed the delegation about the functioning of the medical camp. They said 50 women patients were undergoing treatment at the facility while 30 patients had been discharged.

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