PM announces Rs.1bn for rescue-relief operation
—Dispatches goods to affected areas
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—Massive relief efforts were underway for the victims of an earthquake that rocked major cities Saturday morning as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced Rs. one billion in immediate assistance for rescue operation and ordered dispatch of truckloads of goods to the affected areas.
After a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister House late evening, he told reporters the trembler caused extensive damage in Azad Kashmir.
Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot’s low-lying areas, Abbotabad, Manshera, Ghari Habibullah and Batgram were the most severely hit ares where mainly mud houses were completely destroyed.
Prime Minister Aziz described the situation as very serious and said a massive relief and rescue operation involving army, police and other civil agencies has been mounted in the affected areas.
He announced Rs. one billion for relief efforts and ordered an immediate dispatch of 10 truckloads of goods to Hazara division from where it would be air-lifted to areas not accessible through roads.
Pakistan government would welcome assistance from friends abroad, he added.
Prime Minister Aziz said with the assistance of the army, the work was on to open the road linking Murree to AJK that had been blocked by the land-sliding triggered by the earthquake.
The epicentre of the quake was located at about 95 kilometres northeast of Islamabad. The massive tremors lasted for at least two minutes, followed by several aftershocks, shortly before and after around 0900 hours.
Strong aftershocks were also recorded in the evening.
Based on available reports, the Prime Minister put the estimated casualties at hundreds that could go beyond that.
The tremor, measuring 7.6 on the Ritcher Scale, also a 10-storey building in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Aziz, who along with President General Pervez Musharraf visited the site, said relief operation was underway to retrieve the people from the rubble.
Prime Minister Aziz said he has also talked to the Governor and the Chief Minister of the NWFP and relief and rescue efforts were being carried out in the affected areas.
He appreciated quick response from the army, Interior Ministry and other civil agencies.
An emergency has been declared in hospitals and medical camps set up in Islamabad and in the quake-hit areas to ensure immediate aid to the injured.
The Prime Minister also appealed to the people to contribute to the government’s relief efforts.
A President Fund has been opened and a disaster relief cell established at the Prime Minister’s House to help the affected people.
Prime Minister Aziz said that the government would also announce compensation for the dead and provide financial assistance to help the reconstruction efforts.
The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, Information Secretary Shahid Rafi, Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah and other officials. The shocks also caused several landslides around the far northern towns of Skardu, Kohistan and Chitral, forcing the closure of several important roads. Sections of the famous Karakorum Highway — the old Silk Road that links Pakistan with China — were also blocked due to landslides and avalanches in snowy passes, reports from Skardu said.