Iran's aids arrive in Karachi

An Iranian delegation led by Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar on Thursday arrived at the Karachi airport along with a plane of relief goods for the rain-hit people of Sindh province.The delegation was received by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial ministers and senior bureaucrats at the airport. The Iranian delegation said at the CM House in a ceremony that they had brought the first phase of items of relief goods and the second phase of relief goods comprising 55 tons were being sent through Air Cargo which would arrive very soon. Najjar stated that during last year's floods in Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran had supplied assistance for the flood affected people. The Iranian government has released assistance of $100mln for relief while the Iranian people and the government will also coordinate and cooperate for the rehabilitation process of the rain affected people. He also assured, "The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will support the unity, integrity, and solidarity of Pakistan, while we will continue our cooperation for the development of the country." Najjar added that the Iranian high power delegation recently visited Islamabad and assessed the losses and needs of recent disaster of heavy rains. Shah on the occasion warmly welcomed Najjar and expressed his thanks on behalf of the people and Sindh government for providing relief goods for the rain-affected people. He further appreciated the cooperation of the President and people of Iran. Shah added that Iran and Pakistan had old brotherly relations and last year also, the Iranian government has extended assistance of $100mln. He lauded the spirit, under which the relief goods have been sent to Pakistan. Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Sindh Minister for Rehabilitation Haji Muzzafar Shujra, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Muhammad Abbas, I.G Police Sindh Wajid Ali Durrani, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh Waqar Mehdi, Director General PDMA Saleh Farooqui, officials of the Sindh government and notables were also present on the occasion. Earlier, on his arrival, Najjar was warmly welcomed by Shah at the VVIP Terminal-I of the Karachi airport. Consul-General of Iran at Karachi Abbas Ali Abdullahi accompanied Najjar in the visit. A delegation comprising 20 people have also arrived at Karachi. Najjar handed over the relief goods containing food items, tents, medicines and mineral water bottles etc brought in Boeing 747 from Iran to Chief Minister Sindh for distribution in rain affected areas of Sindh province.