Quake caused damage worth $5b: Premier
Says death toll exceeds 38,000 - Hails Opp support - Receives $500m aid pledges
By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Saturday, the initial estimates indicate that Pakistan will require at least $ 5 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation work in AJK and NWFP areas devastated by the October 8 strong earthquake.
“The death toll has crossed 38,000 with over 62,000 injured and these figures may rise”, Shaukat Aziz told foreign media while giving them the details of recent earthquake and relief and rescue measures taken so far here at the Prime Minister house.
The Prime Minister said, the relief and rescue work was going on at a fast pace in the areas adversely hit by the last week’s earthquake, which has been described as “bigger than Tsunami in terms of devastation of infrastructure and property” by the UN Disaster Relief Agency.
“In my view it will take some five years to reconstruct and rehabilitate the areas hit and damaged by the earthquake”.
He said, with two divisions of army moved into the quake-hit areas — one each in AJK and NWFP areas — in addition to the already deployed troops, a total of 58 helicopters including 18 from friendly countries were engaged in the relief and rescue work.
Prime Minister Aziz said, another 24 helicopters are needed to cope with the requirements of rescue and relief work, as the destruction of small roads particularly in the mountainous areas was hampering the supply of relief goods to the people trapped in the villages on hilltops.
He said, the people from within and outside Pakistan are generously contributing in the relief fund, with around $ 500 million already pledged by friendly countries and over Rs 3 billion donated by the people from across Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said there was a dire of need of tents, blankets and medicines in the quake-hit areas, as the winter season has already started with the first snowfall occurred on the hilltops during the last 48 hours.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has appreciated the cooperation and efforts of lawmakers from the opposition bench in providing relief assistance to the earthquake affected people.
Talking to Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri and Qari Gul Rehman during National Assembly proceedings on Saturday, the prime minister said government appreciates the spirit shown by opposition members in relief activities, which speaks volume of the fact that Pakistani nation always stands one when its needed the most. Pakistan Muslim League President and former prime minister Ch Shujaat Hussain and foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri were also present on the occasion.
“It also proves the point that we can face a challenging situation by standing together,” he added. The Prime Minister also said that government was facing different problems in providing relief to the affected areas but made a pledge that everybody will stand united in this difficult situation.
The opposition members also assured the prime minister about their all out cooperation to the government in coping this situation. They also stressed upon the premier to utilize al available government and international aide resources in reaching the remote areas, which have not been accessed yet.
The prime minister told them that government was conducting survey in this regard while in the far flung areas relief goods were dispatched with the help of helicopters.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said relief and rehabilitation work is being expedited and maximum efforts are underway to provide food and shelter to remote areas affected due to tragic earthquake of October 8.
Talking to newsmen here at PML House after attending the Central Executive Committee meeting of the PML, Prime Minister Aziz said the government had been able to provide the relief goods to the cities so far and now efforts are being made to take these goods to the remote and inaccessible areas.
The Prime Minister said temporary accommodation would be provided to the affectees.
He said so far the death toll has reached to 38,000 and expressed the fear that it could increase when the rescue teams will reach to remote affected areas.
The Prime Minister said the CEC of the PML also discussed the relief and rehabilitation work being done by the government and he explained in detail about the measures taken by the government in this regard.
Shaukat Aziz also thanked the international community for sending support and relief goods to help and assist the government to provide relief to the earthquake affected people.
He said United Nations is also extending cooperation to Pakistan in this need of hour.
Appreciating the devotion, zeal and enthusiasm of the people of the country, the Prime Minister said the passion shown by the people to help their brothers affected by earthquake is extraordinary. He said these feelings and zeal of the people would provide encouragement and hope to face the challenges like this earthquake.
The Prime Minister said PML is fully involved in the relief and rescue operation and he and PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain personally visited various affected areas.
He said PML is also collecting the relief goods and sending them to the affected areas for the help of the affectees.
The Prime Minister said so 15 field hospitals with the assistance and cooperation of international community had been established in the affected areas.
He said the local government in the earthquake affected areas had been collapsed therefore, the federal government had sent officials to run the affairs of the AJK government.
The Prime Minister said army and civil officers had been sent to the affected areas.
He said PML and other parties are working together to revive the life in the affected areas.
The Prime Minister said the government would provide full assistance and help to the orphans and widows so that they could lead normal life.
Shaukat Aziz said the tragedy of earthquake is the test of government and nation, therefore every one should join hands in this difficult moment.
Replying to a question about the rehabilitation of the affectees, the Prime Minister said a Rehabilitation Authority is being formed to complete this gigantic project as millions of the people had become homeless.