China sends 50-member rescue team to Pakistan
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—China has rushed to Pakistan a 50-member strong search and rescue team to assist in search and rescue operations in the earthquake affected areas of Pakistan.
The team also comprises of paramedics and is carrying the latest equipment for rescue operations. Meanwhile, British government has despatched earthquake and heat-seeking equipment to help in relief and rescue efforts in Pakistan, official sources said on Saturday. A team of experts is also coming with the equipment which is used to track people trapped in rubble.
A destructive trembler, measuring 7.6 on the Ritcher Scale rocked major cities in Pakistan, causing widespread damage and destruction, specially in Azad Kashmir.
The epicentre of the quake has been located 95 kilometres north of Islamabad. Strong aftershocks continued to hit the cities including Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore and the northern parts.
China Earthquake Administration has also offered Pakistan search and rescue assistance to help the government cope with the devastation caused by the earthquake.
According to a message received here on Saturday from the Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing, the China Earthquake Administration’s International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR) has been put on the alert and is closely following developments in the quake-hit areas.
Japan, Turkish and Egypt as well as International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of Red Cross have extended all out support to Pakistan Red Crescent Society for the earthquake affectees.
These offers were extended to PRCS Chairman Jahan Dad Khan in a telephonic messages.
Khan said Pakistan Red Crescent Society ambulances; volunteers are busy in the rescue operation in Islamabad and all over the country.