Saudi Arabia and the United States were the two leading bilateral contributors with pledges of $573 million and $510 million respectively at the international donors conference held in Islamabad to raise funds for Pakistan's earthquake devastated areas, officials said. Both the countries also took initiative to mobilize their private sectors to collect funds and help tens of thousands of people affected by the October 8 tremor. Saudi Arabia announced SR500 million ($153 million) in grants and another SR700 ($187 million) in concessional loans. A public campaign is already underway in the Saudi Arabia to collect financial and material donations which have reached SR450 million till to-date. The American pledge includes $300 million in cash, $110 million in kind for relief operations, and $100 million in U.S. private contributions. Some 1,200 American emergency management personnel are currently engaged in relief efforts in the quake-hit areas. A total of 140 U.S. military and civilian cargo airlifts have so far delivered over 2,000 tons of medical supplies, food, shelter materials, blankets and rescue equipment to Pakistan. President General Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan is extremely grateful to the international community for extending generous assistance for reconstruction of quake-ravaged areas particularly Saudi Arabia and the United States.
