A humane, mature and civilised Chinese society is rising from calamities and crises. Nearly five million people have been left homeless by an earthquake of the magnitude of 7.8 on the scale that devastated its southwestern regions and Sichuan province on May 18, 2008. The confirmed death toll has risen to almost 29, 000 and is expected to eventually surpass 100,000. It is a tragedy of unimaginable scale. The quake reminded me of October 8, 2004 when Pakistan also suffered from an earthquake just as massive and our Chinese friends had helped us unconditionally. We cannot forget their sympathy, generosity and benevolence in those bad times. The People's Liberation Army, the Chinese people and volunteers all have support and love of the Pakistani people in this difficult time. -JAWAID IMAM, Karachi, via e-mail, May 17.