PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
AID FOR VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN PAKISTAN AND KASHMIR (19 October 2005)

That this House notes that the devastating earthquake in South Asia has already cost nearly 50 times more lives than were lost during Hurricane Katrina, yet the amount of money pledged thus far represents a worrying 0.5 per cent. of that committed to New Orleans; also notes the comments of the UN emergency relief chief, Jan Egeland, that the shortfall in aid for victims of the earthquake has made the relief situation worse than after December's tsunami; believes that substantial aid is necessary both in the short-term and for longer-term reconstruction; is concerned that the UN's flash appeal for Pakistan has so far only received a pledge of $37 million, which represents a mere 12 per cent. of what the UN requested; urges the Government to push for a more realistic aid package at the meeting of UN donors on 26th October in Geneva; notes that the European Union has committed 13.5 million euros as relief assistance for the earthquake; believes, however, that in the long term the vital ingredient in the region's recovery will be its ability to sustain economic growth; urges the Government to use its presidency of the EU to include Pakistan as a member of the Generalised System of Preferences Plus Scheme, just as trade concessions were given to tsunami-affected countries; and asks the Government to continue donating generously to the UN Flash Appeal and intensify its efforts towards providing market access to Pakistan at the earliest opportunity.

Sponsored by:
Mr Shahid Malik (Labour)