UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Saturday made a fervent appeal at a donors' conference in Islamabad Saturday to the world community to generously provide funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Pakistan's earthquake ravaged region with President General Pervez Musharraf unveiling the rebuilding plan. "I hope I can count on all of you in weeks, months and years ahead," Annan said in his ten-minute speech to more than 75 delegates from different countries, international financial institutions and NGOs. The UN chief appealed to the governments, civil society organizations and businessmen to provide massive funds as, he said, figures about quake devastation 'terribly fall short of the sufferings of countless Pakistanis.' Annan underlined the need for sustained effort for building schools, roads, sanitation facilities, medical care, restoration of power and other utilities etc. He gave his impressions about his visit to the quake hit areas and said short-term and long-term sustained efforts are needed for reconstruction and rehabilitation. --MORE 1432 Local Time 1132 GMT
