President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday expressed his appreciation over the relief assistance provided by Dutch and Irish governments.
He was talking to Dutch Minister for Development Co-operation Mrs Agnes van Ardenne and Irish Minister of State for Development Co-operation Conor Lenihan, who called on him here.
The two ministers expressed their support and sympathies over the loss of life and property in devastating October 8 earthquake.
The President briefed the visiting ministers about ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the earthquake affected areas.
65-member Dutch Rescue team was sent immediately after the earthquake, which was deployed in Bagh area. One Dutch mobile field hospital has also been working in the same area.
The Dutch government also pledged dollars 70 million for reconstruction and rehabilitation and 14 million euros towards UN Flash Appeal for earthquake relief.
Ireland was also one of the countries, which responded immediately to earthquake disaster of 8 October 2005. It has established field hospitals in Bagh and Muzaffarabad and sent tents, medicines, medical teams to the earthquake affected areas.
The Irish Minister of State for Development informed the President of Ireland's decision to pledge additional funds for humanitarian relief.
Netherlands and Ireland are Pakistan's major trading partners.
President Musharraf said Pakistan would welcome greater economic co-operation including lifting of anti-dumping duty and provision of GSP-Plus; as greater market access would help in the counter terrorism efforts as well as job creation and poverty alleviation in the country.
The Dutch and Irish ministers who arrived in Islamabad this morning are on two-day visit to Pakistan and will also tour the earthquake-affected areas in Azad Kashmir and NWFP.
They will meet the representatives of UN Agencies and NGOs working in the earthquake affected areas.
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