Rs 10m Nepali aid for Pakistan flood victims

KATHMANDU, Aug 13: Nepal government has decided to provide Rs 10 million (Approximately US $ 135,000) as assistance for the cause of flood-affected people in Pakistan. A cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Friday took a decision to this effect.



Talking to journalists, Minister for Information and Communications of the caretaker government Shankar Pokharel said the cabinet meeting decided to provide the amount while expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and damages caused due to the flood.[break]



A flood in Pakistani town of Sukkur occurred recently killed over 1,500 and left an estimated 7 million people needing emergency assistance, their homes destroyed or damaged.



The cabinet meeting also decided to partially waive customs duty for import of sugar in view of the shortage of sugar in the face of approaching festivals.



Minister Pokharel said the cabinet meeting also took a decision to form a commission to study the deforestation taking place in various Tarai districts. The commission will be headed by a Supreme Court justice.



Among other decisions, the cabinet meeting approved names of a five-member delegation led by Home Secretary Dr Gobinda Kusum to hold security talks with China and provide relief to drought-affected farmers in central Tarai districts.

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