Minister thanks Pope for aid appeals

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo.

“The flood affected persons are very close to my heart and we stand in solidarity with Pakistan. We will continue to support the victims of this devastation for which I have made appeals,” the Pope said in the meeting, according to a fax message received on Monday.

The minister thanked the Pope for his personal appeals for the victims of the catastrophic floods and expressed gratitude for the donations already made by the Catholic Church.

He also appreciated that Catholic charitable agencies throughout the world had launched campaigns to raise funds to provide long-term assistance to those in need.

Bhatti underscored that timely assistance would go a long way in providing essential items, combating the twin dangers of malnourishment and disease, as well as meeting the challenges of rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2010.