ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: A UN official has said that the late claims of compensation filed by Pakistanis, affected during 1990 Gulf war, are likely to be paid by April next.

Deputy Director General of the UN Compensation Commission (UNCC) Michael Raboin informed the Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Senator Tariq Azim Khan in Geneva, that the processing of Pakistanis' 859 claims are expected to be completed by March 2005.

"The award amount against the claims is likely to be paid in April 2005," the UN official said at the meeting which took place on September 30.

Tariq Azim is in Geneva as a member of the Pakistan Parliamentary delegation attending 11th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Minister thanked Raboin for the cooperation extended by UNCC to Pakistan.-APP