News
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Gilani cancels US visit due to floodsISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday cancelled a visit to the United States to address the UN General Assembly because of widespread new floods in the country. Heavy rains in Sindh have caused flooding that has so far killed 289 people and forced 400,000 others to leave their homes, one year after the country suffered its worst-ever floods. The prime minister has “called off his visit to New York to address United Nations General Assembly because of heavy rains and floods in Sindh province,” a statement issued by his office said. The statement said that Gilani had instructed Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to attend the UN session on his behalf while he would visit the flood-affected areas. The latest heavy rains that began falling in late August have so far affected at least 5.3 million people and deluged 1.7 million acres of arable land. Gilani’s cancellation also comes as ties between Pakistan and the United States waver over their counterterrorism efforts. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk