Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Mashallah Shakeri, has announced that Tehran has allocated $100 million for reconstruction of the flood-hit areas in Pakistan, adding that more Iranian relief aid will be sent to the South Asian state in the coming days, Fars reports.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad on Thursday, Mr Shakeri said that "Iran plans to dispatch 100 truckloads of foodstuffs, clothing and blankets to help the flood victims in Pakistan."
Shakeri said Pakistan has already received 20 plane-loads of relief supplies and basic necessities. He noted that the first consignment of shipments consisted of clothing, tents, grain and mattresses with an estimated value of $4 million. By October 2, more aid will be delivered to Pakistan through Iran's south-eastern border city of Zahedan, the envoy noted.
Torrential monsoon rains triggered massive floods that have moved steadily from North to South over the past two months, engulfing a fifth of the volatile country and affecting 20 million of Pakistan's 167 million people. This is the greatest natural disaster in the history of the country.
Southern Sindh is the worst-affected province, with 19 of its 23 districts ravaged as floodwaters have swollen the raging Indus river to 40 times its usual volume.
