KARACHI, Nov 19: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that Pakistan had been struck by the strongest ever earthquake in its history on October 8, and while it was faced with massive reconstruction and rehabilitation challenge, the MQM arranged aid worth more than Rs2.1 billion in cash and kind for quake-hit areas and people.

He said the party’s efforts in this regard were continuing.

Mr Hussain was addressing workers of the Mohibban-i-Pakistan in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates by telephone.

He recalled that soon after the disaster hit northern Pakistan, MQM rushed volunteers and relief goods to the affected areas while the MQM’s US, Canada, Britain, and South Africa chapters moved swiftly to collect and dispatch relief goods to Pakistan.

Praising every unit of the Mohibban-i-Pakistan for its contribution towards the relief efforts, he said MQM workers around the world worked day and night to mitigate the sufferings of the affected people.

He said that the social welfare wing, Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation, of the MQM throughout Pakistan, particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad, had done a commendable job in this regard.

Claiming that no other party had contributed to the relief efforts more vigorously then the MQM, he said that hundreds of its workers, doctors, paramedical staff and volunteers had remained busy in serving the people in the affected areas ever since the calamity hit the region.

Paying tributes to Mohibban-i-Pakistan for their contribution, he drew their attention towards the dire need of cash to meet the cost of transportation, and asked them to arrange maximum possible donations to the British based NGO, ‘Sun Society For the Unwell and Needy’ which was also working in collaboration with the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation in its relief efforts.

On the occasion, Mr Hussain was briefed on the relief and rehabilitation work being carried out in the affected areas by MQM workers and volunteers.