UK to airlift free-of-cost 60,000 tons relief goods

British Government, at the request of Pakistan High Commission here, has provided Boeing 704 to airlift free of cost 60,000 tons of relief goods to quake-stricken areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
The chartered Boeing left for Pakistan from the East Midland airport here late Friday and was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday, official sources told APP here.
Of the 60,000 tons relief goods donated by British Pakistanis, 2,000 were blankets, 2,500 winterised (ICRC specified) tents, 2,000 sleeping bags, 1,500 kg of urgent life-saving medicines and 10 tons of miscellaneous relief material.
Islamabad's envoy to London Dr Maleeha Lodhi said she was thankful to the British Government for "promptly responding to our request" by providing the plane free of cost to ferry relief goods, donated by British-Pakistanis.
Meanwhile, British-Pakistanis across the UK, students groups, British Non-Governmental Organisations and charities were actively engaged to collect both the needed relief items and raise money for helping quake victims of October 8.