A strong earthquake, the most powerful in 100 years, hit Pakistan yesterday at 8:52 am. More than 20,000 deaths and around 50,000 injured are reported so far, toll may rise to thousands more. Due to the destruction of communication means and bad weather, actual figures are not known so far. Kashmir is the worst hit area, where many villages have been completely destroyed. NWFP province and northern areas of Pakistan are also severely hit. We in Lahore also felt strong earthquake, many huge buildings have got cracks and one three story building was collapsed.

Large scale rescue and relief efforts have been carried out by government and civil society organizations.

Labour Education Foundation in collaboration with Women Workers Help Line, National Trade Union Federation and Labour Party Pakistan is setting up relief camps in Lahore and Karachi to help victims in the worst hit areas. We will be working closely with our contact organizations and persons in these areas to coordinate joint efforts. We will be collecting money mainly for medicine and food.

You can help in relief efforts by sending money to Labour Education Foundation. You can also send medicine and food items directly to our offices in Lahore and Karachi or camp sites. Details of Camp sites will be sent to you tomorrow.

In solidarity,

Khalid Mahmood
Programme Manager,
Labour Education Foundation,
Sufi Mansion, 7- Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tel: 0092 42 6303808 Fax: 0092 42 6271149 Cell: 0092 321 9402322
Karachi Office: 628- Mashriq Center, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. Tel: 0092 21 4854643

-- Labour Party Pakistan
40 Abbot Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: 92 42 6315162
Email: labourparty@gmx.net
www.laborpakistan.org