Ireland's aid to Pakistan, following the October earthquake, has been doubled to €10 million, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Conor Lenihan said yesterday.
Mr Lenihan, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, had a meeting yesterday with President Musharaff, during which he expressed sympathy with the Pakistani people on behalf of Ireland.
He said that €2 million of the aid would be paid over by Christmas and the remainder early next year.He added that he very much hoped that Ireland's doubling of funds would send a signal to other donors to honour pledges that had already been made and encourage them to do more.
"There are still a great many lives at risk," said Mr Lenihan. Mr Lenihan left Pakistan yesterday for Hong Kong where he will attend the WTO talks with Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan and Minister of State for Trade Michael Ahern.