ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday lauded the efforts and services of the Iranian relief and rescue team. The president spoke to the Iranian team during his visit to Chaklala air base on Saturday. The president’s visit coincided with the one of three Iranian team’s departure for Iran.

The president appreciated the efforts and relief assistance of Iran through the international relief programme for the killer earthquake-hit people of Pakistan.

The group, equipped with facilities for tracing and rescuing trapped people as well as sniffer dogs, had arrived Pakistan immediately after the quake hit northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. It was stationed in Kaghan region and succeeded in rescuing six of the quake victims alive trapped for 72 hours.

MOBILE HOSPITAL: The Iranian doctors have set up a mobile hospital in the quake-hit region of Garhi Habibullah. The hospital became operational on Thursday and is providing treatment to the affected people.

It is the only medical care centre in Balakot and its suburbs that is capable of carrying out X-ray, surgery, radiology, sonography and orthopaedic activities.

Over 400 patients visited the hospital on Thursday and Friday. The Iranian doctors conducted more than 10 surgeries, 40 stitches, 10 cases of dressing with plaster cast, 250 cases of injections, inoculations, and 80 cases of treatment with serum (or drip) in this hospital.

SOS VILLAGES: SOS Children’s Villages have handed over their temporary shelter to the Ministry of Women Development to handle the influx of 200 survivors of the earthquake.

BESTWAY GROUP: Bestway Group has pledged over Rs90 million in cash and kind for the relief of earthquake victims.

Announcing this through a letter to the government of Pakistan, Sir Anwar Pervaiz, chairman, Bestway Group said: “We are the largest overseas Pakistani investors in the country and will not let our country down in its hour of need.”

Charitable Trust Bestway Foundation, UK, has made an immediate donation of 100,000 pound sterlings (Rs11 million) towards the President’s Relief Fund. Bestway Cement and Bestway Foundation (Pakistan) have provided a relief package worth 100,000 pound sterling (Rs11 million) for the quake-hit people.

Bestway Cement has also provided tents, blankets, life-saving drugs, food items and potable water worth Rs2 million to the earthquake victims.

Accelerating the aid efforts, the group has also placed fund boxes at its cash and carry stores around the UK, Scotland and Wales. Customers, suppliers, Bestway’s employees and UK citizens are pouring in donations. All collected money will be forwarded to the appeal fund regularly during the coming weeks.

UBL: United Bank Limited (UBL), an associated company of Bestway Group, has also decided to deposit Rs50 million donation to the President’s Relief Fund and has allocated Rs20 million towards aid in kind for earthquake victims.