NEW DELHI, July 11: India and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, setting out the modalities for release of US $25 million pledged by India as humanitarian assistance for the victims of the October earthquake in Kashmir.

The Indian foreign ministry said the funds would enable the Government of Pakistan to procure reconstruction material from India as per requirement. The MoU was signed for India by Foreign Secretary with Pakistan’s High Commissioner Aziz Ahmad Khan.

“The Government of India hopes that this will assist the families who have been devastated by the earthquake on Oct 8, 2005, in rebuilding their lives,” the Indian statement said.

India had sent relief material worth $5 million for those affected by the earthquake in Pakistan. Separately, relief supplies valued at more than $10.5 million were also donated from other government, semi-government and private sources. This includes relief material handed over across the Line of Control.

India had pledged the $25 million aid at the international donors’ conference organised by the UN Coordinator for Emergency Relief in Geneva in October last year.