BEIJING, May 31 (APP) : Pakistan Embassy here organized a Fundraiser Bazaar at the Chancery Saturday and  an amount of over 300,000 Yuan (Rs 3 million) was collected for the victims of May 12 devastating earthquake that hit Sichuan province.

The Bazaar was a part of efforts to contribute towards the relief assistance extended by the Government of Pakistan for the quake affected people of south-western China.

The Fundraiser was able to generate over 300,000 yuan (Rs 3 million) by donations and money raised through various stalls. This includes pledges made on the occasion. The proceeds will be sent to quake victims through the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

A large number of Pakistanis including businessmen, students, media as well as Chinese officials, businesses representatives, media organizations, think tanks, professors from different universities and members of the diplomatic corps attended the Bazaar in large number.

Ms. Yang Jian of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, representing the wife of  Chinese Foreign Minister, speaking on the occasion expressed gratitude of the Government and people of China to the Government of Pakistan for extending relief assistance and to the Pakistan Embassy for holding the Fundraiser.

She appreciated the gesture of the Government of Pakistan for providing tents from its strategic reserves and termed it a genuine expression of all weather Pakistan-China friendship.

The Charge d' Affairs of Pakistan Embassy, Abdul Salik Khan reaffirmed the sentiments of sympathy, support and solidarity of the Pakistani people and leadership for the people of China at this hour of need.

Salik Khan noted that primary objective of the Bazaar was to collect money for the assistance of quake affectees.

He on the occasion thanked the China-based representatives of the Habib Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, United Bank and PIA for their generous donations for the Bazaar.

The wife of Pakistan's Ambassador to China and the Foreign Secretary Mrs. Taranum Salman Bashir in her address, referred to the prompt assistance and support provided by Chinese to the earthquake affected people of Pakistan in October 2005.

She pointed out that people and Government of Pakistan stood by their Chinese friends in meeting the challenges arising from the earthquake.

On the occasion, she also thanked the representatives of the Chinese entrepreneurs for their donations.

The gathering observed a minute silence and lit candles in remembrance of those who lost lives in the earthquake.