As the flooding disaster worsens in Pakistan, cash is being raised locally to help with relief efforts. The provincial government has pledged $500,000 in assistance and an Edmonton group is holding a fundraising dinner Monday night to send to flood victims in Pakistan.

People in rural Pakistan have complained aid is not getting to their region quickly enough. At least 1,600 people have already been killed in the flood-ravaged country. An estimated 20 million people are without clean drinking water, food and shelter.

"They have lost everything," said Arif Ali, an Edmonton man who's closely watching the situation because his sister's farm in central Pakistan was completely washed out by the disaster. The animals were killed and the crops wiped out.

"They have no phones, nothing," Ali added, saying his sister's family is now living in a makeshift camp.

A fundraising dinner was held Monday night at a south Edmonton banquet hall to help victims of the flood.

"The idea is basically to raise funds to send to Pakistan as quickly as possible," said Dr. Qaseem Khan, an Edmonton doctor assisting with the fundraiser.

Organizers say nearly $250 thousand was raised at the event.

With files from CTV's Bill Fortier.