KARACHI, Nov 18: MQM Leader Altaf Husssain has appealed to the international community to respond wholeheartedly to the plea for more generous contributions towards earthquake relief work in Pakistan.

In a statement faxed from London on Friday, he welcomed the UN Secretary General, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and assistant secretary of state, Ms Christina Rocca, and thanked them for appealing for more generous aid to Pakistan, and personally monitoring aid inflow, for which he is deeply indebted on behalf of millions of Pakistanis.

He also thanked the British government for sanctioning additional US$70 million for affectees of natural calamity striking Pakistan on Oct 8.

Altaf Hussain said world community must respond quickly on UN Secretary General’s appeal to help suffering people who are shelter-less and need immediate help. If aid was denied in time, casualty figures may multiply, he feared.

Meanwhile, MQM despatched another of team of workers to disaster-hit areas which was seen off by joint in charge of MQM Pakistan Abdul Haseeb, rabita committee member Dr Nusrat at party’s centre of Khursheed Memorial Hall in Karachi.

The party has intensified its work to bring relief and succour to victims of calamity. Rabita Committee member Waseem Aftab distributed goods sent by the party’s America chapter through cargo flights among victims.—PPI