Iran minister visits flood-hit Pakistan

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar arrives in Islamabad to discuss ways to send relief aid to flood-hit Pakistani people.

Upon his arrival at Islamabad Chaklala Airport on Thursday, the Iranian minister was welcomed by his Pakistani counterpart Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Masha’allah Shakeri, IRNA reported.

So far, Iran has sent 300 tons of humanitarian aid including tents, foodstuffs, medicine and water for the flood victims in Pakistan.

The flooding, which is the worst-ever natural disaster to hit Pakistan, has affected some 20 million people, killing over 1,760 others, according to latest official figures.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has recently set up a medical camp in the north of Karachi. The camp is offering round-the-clock service to Pakistani patients.

Three high-ranking officials representing the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as well as Head of the IRCS Abolhassan Faqih and officials from Iran’s Foreign Ministry accompany Mohammad Najjar in his visit to Pakistan.

The Iranian officials are scheduled to meet with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday.

The visit is Mohammad Najjar’s second after torrential rains triggered massive floods that have moved steadily from north to south of Pakistan over the past month.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned that millions of Pakistani children risk contracting water-borne diseases like cholera through contact with contaminated water.