A Chinese embassy official Tuesday called on an official of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to donate $30,000 on behalf of the China Red Cross Society (CRCS) to assist the residents affected by the landslide in northern Pakistan early this year.

Muhammad Ilyas Khan, PRCS secretary general, asked Yao Jing, counselor of the Chinese embassy to Pakistan, to convey his appreciation to the CRCS for its generous donation to Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan due to the landslide in January 2010.

He said that Chinese friends always extend assistance to Pakistan in difficult times and Pakistan is proud of its friendship with China.

At present, the local government and PRCS are working hard to provide relief to the villages. The government is also trying to control the damage and tackle with the challenge caused by the lake in the area.

On January 4, a serious landslide occurred in Gilgit-Baltistan and formed a huge barrier lake. The slide blocked over 20,000 local residents in Upper Hunza from outside. The Pakistani government is conducting the rescue and relief work . On January 19, at the request of the Pakistani government, the Chinese side made special arrangements to open the Kunjirap border and facilitate the purchase of relief goods from China and its clearance.

The China Road and Bridge Corporation, which is conducting the project of upgradation of the Karakoram Highway, has also provided engineering consultations and equipment to help the Pakistani side to deal with the problem.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2010)