Monday, March 28 2005 15:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In a goodwill gesture from across the border, a group of Pakistani schoolgirls today (March 28, 2005) presented a cheque of $ 1,000 to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the welfare of tsunami victims.

The girls from the Resource Academia in Lahore had raised the money (approximately Rs 45,000) by polishing shoes and selling bakery products.

Accepting the cheque from the delegation comprising 16 students and teachers, the Prime Minister said he was deeply touched by the "warm human response," official sources said.

The delegation, which entered India through the Wagah check-post yesterday (March 27, 2005), would also meet former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President L K Advani, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav during their stay.

Chairperson of Indian Council for Cultural Relations Najma Heptulla would host a lunch during which the Pakistani schoolgirls would have an academic interaction with women students from Aligarh Muslim University, the sources said.