ISLAMABAD, March 28: Pakistan dispatched Thursday a C-130 load of emergency relief goods to Kabul for the victims of devastating earthquake which killed and wounded thousands of people in Northern Afghanistan.

Federal Health Minister Dr Abdul Malik Kasi as the head of Pakistani delegation would deliver the relief goods to the Afghan authorities and to discuss what Pakistan could do for their Afghan brethren at this hour of need.

The minister is accompanied by the cabinet secretary, Javed Masood, and the director-general, Emergency Relief Cell, Brig M. Ilyas Khan.

Afghan Charge d’ Affaire Rahmatullah Musa Ghazi, who was present at the airport to see off the Pakistani delegation, said “We thank the people and the government of Pakistan for this friendly and brotherly gesture for the people of the war-ravaged country at this critical moment”.

Dr Kasi while talking to newsmen before departure said it was the first consignment of the relief goods while the rest including food-items would be transported by road. The consignment included tents, blankets and medicines for the earthquake victims.

The minister said after his talks with a senior Afghan health ministry official, the required medicines were arranged besides tents and blankets to face the biting cold in the area. After assessing their needs more assistance would be provided to the Afghan brethren, the minister said.

The government, he said, may also send a medical team to Afghanistan, if requested. He said the relief assistance would be a gift from the people of Pakistan to their Afghan brethren as the Pakistan government and the people had always been ready to extend all possible help to their Afghan brothers.

President General Pervez Musharraf has also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the devastation and loss of human life caused by the earthquake in Afghanistan. In order to express solidarity and sympathy with the Afghan brethren and to help them in this hour of need, the government, as a goodwill gesture, had offered relief assistance on Wednesday. — APP