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An extra £300,000 of emergency funding has been pledged for Pakistan, increasing Scottish Government support for the country to more than £1.2 million, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today

Last month Scottish Ministers announced over £900,000 of support for Scottish-based organisations operating in Pakistan - £500,000 emergency funding (now £807,000) and £400,000 of development funds that have been allocated to projects that help communities work their way out of extreme poverty.

At Blackhall Mosque in Edinburgh, the First Minister announced £807,000 of emergency funding will be distributed to 15 Scottish organisations delivering much-needed disaster relief following the catastrophic floods last month.

Islamic Relief, Concern Worldwide, Christian Aid, Save the Children, University of Glasgow, UCare Foundation, SCIAF, MercyCorps, Oxfam, CBM, British Red Cross, Sightsavers, Healing Wounds, Islamic Centre Glasgow and Edinburgh Direct Aid will receive a share of the increased emergency funding.

Projects include:

• Islamic Relief (£75,000)
  To help 3,850 individuals through the provision of basic dry food for one month, cooking sets, jerry cans, soap, mosquito nets and plastic sheets
• University of Glasgow (£66,269)
  To assist 2,000 individuals through the provision of rapidly built shelters. It will provide manuals, diagrams and self-help guides to families to enable them to mobilise as a community to build the shelters and washroom facilities
• Mercy Corps (£75,000)
  To provide access to clean water, emergency sanitation, food and other essential items. It will operate short water trucking, along with filtration and rehabilitation of water systems to alleviate the water shortage

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"More than 1,600 lives have been claimed and 20 million people have been directly affected by the floods in Pakistan.

"The Scottish Government is stepping up its support with £807,000 of emergency humanitarian funding going to 15 Scottish organisations that are working on the ground to help those whose homes and communities were destroyed by these catastrophic floods.

"The severity of the crisis is immense and ongoing and this is reflected by our decision to allocate £300,000 of extra funding to support the Scottish organisations that are working tirelessly save lives and rebuild communities.

"It is crucial that people across Scotland continue to give generously and support the aid agencies. The scale of suffering in Pakistan is incredible and so far people in Scotland have donated, with typical generosity, more than £3.9m to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

"The holy month of Ramadan encourages Muslims to reflect on the poor and hungry throughout the world and the burden they bear. And this year's Ramadan fast is a particularly poignant occasion for many Muslims, as we remember those in Pakistan whose lives have been left devastated.

"Charity is at the heart of Ramadan and it is heartening that people of all faiths and none, throughout Scotland, are collecting aid and continuing to raise funds for the emergency appeal. It's absolutely essential that we do not forget those who are suffering from the floods, and that we continue to give generously to save lives and also provide hope to the people of Pakistan."

Head of Islamic Relief Scotland, Habib Malik, said:

"On behalf of Islamic Relief, I would like to thank the Scottish Government for this amazing gift to the flood-afflicted people of Pakistan. Scotland has once again proven that it cares, and has demonstrated its commitment to improving the world by making available this money. Much has been done and yet there is so much more still to do, but this money will help to bring hope to shattered dreams."

Mervyn Lee, Executive Director of Mercy Corps said:

"We are delighted that the Scottish Government is supporting our work to help flood survivors in Pakistan. The floods have devastated communities on a massive scale, with over 5 million people - the equivalent to the population of Scotland - made homeless and now facing the very real threat of water-borne disease.

"The Scottish Government funds, like all the donations we receive, will go straight to help the people of Pakistan, many of whom have lost everything. Mercy Corps teams have been working in Pakistan since 1986, so we know the country well, and we know that these funds are desperately needed and will make a real difference."

The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening links between Scotland and Pakistan, beyond the current crisis. Today the Government has published a Pakistan Engagement Plan which will build on the historic and modern links between our two countries in areas of culture, business, trade and investment and tourism.

Pakistan Consul General in Scotland Mr Shehryar Akbar Khan said:

"I wish to acknowledge with deep gratitude the Scottish Government's generous and timely assistance for the flood affected people of Pakistan. This humanitarian aid of over £800,000 will hopefully make a difference to the lives of distressed people in real need. This is part of the total commitment of £1.2 million which is reflective of Scottish Government's abiding commitment to humanitarian causes and development work in Pakistan, helping local communities work their way out of extreme poverty.

"On behalf of Government of Pakistan, I also welcome the publication of the Scottish Government's Pakistan Plan. Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Scotland and is keen to develop them even further."

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