'More choppers for Pakistan'

US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson announced while attending an Iftar reception in Islamabad on Thursday.

The United States will provide more choppers to Pakistan for flood relief activities. This was announced by US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson while attending an Iftar reception in Islamabad on Thursday.

She said that the US has provided 1.5 million dollars and 15 helicopters to Pakistan in the wake of floods.

The ambassador vowed that the US stands with Pakistan in these testing times and will make all possible efforts to provide assistance to Pakistan.

Patterson also met President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed the floods situation.

On the occasion, the president appreciated the international community for their support to meet the challenge of the "slow motion Tsunami" and called for fast pace disbursement of the pledged funds so that the appropriate strategy for rehabilitation of the victims could be pursued at the earliest.

He said that the assistance by the international community was a short-term measure to take control of the prevailing situation however the long-term remedy to compensate such stupendous loss consisted of allowing enhanced market access for Pak products, according preferential trade facilities, creating Reconstruction Opportunity Zones(ROZs) and more investments in the country.

He said that the democratic government has always preferred trade over temporary aid packages to recuperate the losses caused initially by war against militancy and now the devastating floods.

The president said that the initial estimates of losses on account of unprecedented floods could be much higher than reported.

Several federal ministers and high officials were also present in the meeting.