India said on Thursday it had offered aid worth $25 million to Pakistan for relief and rebuilding areas ravaged by October 8 earthquake. The Indian offer was made at a UN-sponsored meeting in Geneva on Wednesday called to raise funds to help Pakistan overcome the worst disaster in its history, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said.
"The government of Pakistan would be welcome to use this contribution for rebuilding homes and rehabilitating people, reconstructing the infrastructure and restoring essential services," spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.
"It may also procure supplies of building material such as cement, steel and other items from India. Indian technology for prefabricated, earthquake-resistant shelters will also be made available to Pakistan," he said.
New Delhi's announcement came two days before officials of the two countries hold talks in Islamabad to discuss steps to open up Indian relief camps for Pakistani victims along the frontier in disputed Kashmir.
India has so far sent more than 100 tonnes of emergency supplies to Pakistan, where at least 54,000 people have been killed by the earthquake and many more have been made homeless. The October 8 earthquake also killed 1,300 people in Indian Kashmir.
The two countries have moved gingerly over proposals to conduct joint relief operations across the military cease-fire line, which divides Kashmir between them.