The relief effort in the area hit by floods in Pakistan may be helped by a new request for Muslims to tithe for the aid effort.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference has appealed to Muslims everywhere to direct tithes to relief for the flood-wracked country.

The Jeddah-based organisation, has said that Muslims everywhere should help their Pakistan brothers and "not leave them alone to their fate."

Islam requires believers to donate 2.5 per cent of their income annually to share with others within their community, usually the less privileged.

While tithes normally go to local communities, the OIC has pointed out that it is acceptable for Muslims to direct tithes to other communities as well.

Some 18 million people in Pakistan have been affected by the massive flooding along the Indus river.

Some eight million of those people are completely dependent on handouts to survive.