Pakistan is dispatching two plane- loads of relief supplies to the earthquake affected areas in China and will arrange the dispatch of further supplies if required, Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.

"We express our deepest sympathies and solidarity with our Chinese friends over the earthquake tragedy and stand by them in this hour of need," Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said in a statement at the weekly news briefing.

Sadiq said that the relief supplies which would be sent to China on Friday included food items, medicines, bottled water, tents and blankets etc.

"We are confident that great Chinese people will be able to overcome this natural calamity as concerted relief efforts have been launched by China," Sadiq said.

He disclosed that Pakistan was sharing its experience of handling the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and North West Frontier Province with China.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)