The MQM, USA chapter has ordered purchase of two consignments of 10,000 blankets, from Amritsar, India, for distribution among the earthquake affected people, who badly need the item due to the severe cold conditions.
"It is time-saving to get the consignment from the neighbouring country," chief co-ordinator of relief operations said. MQM representative Ibad Ur Rehman said three containers loaded with relief supplies had left Houston for Karachi and would take another nine days to reach there. These contain 20,000 warm sleeping bags, woollen clothes and blankets.
In the meanwhile, he said, the Saudi Airlines had agreed to airlift relief supplies. Ibad said the MQM's field camp from the earthquake hit zone had reported that there was need for food items. The party, he said had contacted a company in Minnesotta, which prepared dried and canned food, rich with minerals and vitamins. Efforts were at hand to purchase one or two containers and despatch these by November 30.
A one and a half tonne consignment of life-saving medicines, woollen ware, gloves, socks and jackets, as well as some wheel chairs besides snow-proof tents had been flown to Pakistan by PIA commercial flight. Preceding it were two relief loads sent by chartered flights in collaboration with the United Nations.