Indian SAFMA representatives call for greater aid from India

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Indian NGOs have been asked to contribute

Staff Report

LAHORE: The visiting president of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) in India, Vinod Kumar Sharma, told reporters on Sunday that India would be providing aid worth Rs five million for flood victims in Pakistan. He said that the amount might not be sufficient for the noble cause but he hoped that non-government organisations (NGOs) in India would come forward and contribute in this regard.

He said the flood had caused severe devastation in Pakistan and that the both countries should work together to overcome this crisis. Satish Jacob, the secretary general of SAFMA India said that they had also asked NGOs to collect funds and submit them to the Pakistani high commission.

They said that the maximum amount of support should be arranged for the flood victims, since it was a natural catastrophe and everyone needed to work together to provide relief to the millions of flood victims.

“We have appealed to the Indian government to provide Pakistan with support for the flood-hit areas because the two countries are neighbours and should always help each other in such testing times,” they said.

They further stated that trade, visa issuance and business between the two countries should be encouraged so they could both benefit.