LAHORE, Jan 16: Ghazal king Mehdi Hassan on Monday lent support to rehabilitation efforts for earthquake survivors. Speaking at a press conference, he said that two NGOs had joined hands for the purpose and he would lend his all-out support to them for the purpose.

Carvan, which is holding a function to pay tributes to him, has merged with a newly-established Community Rehabilitation Foundation. Both the organizations have announced building of five hospitals in the quake-hit areas. These hospitals will be rehabilitations centres carrying out integrated rehabilitation programmes. Once built, these hospitals will then be handed over to either local government or any other capable organization.

Mehdi Hassan, who kept quiet most of time during the press conference, was represented by his son Arif Hassan who took most of the questions from newsmen.

He said that his father was improving after treatment in India and he would again visit there in April. He said that his father was on herbal medicines.