UK assures all out efforts in rehabilitation
By Zulfiqar Ahmad

ISLAMABAD—British Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn Thursday assured Pakistan that Britain and European Union would extend full cooperation and assistance in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas. Talking to newsmen after meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here at Prime Minister House, the British Secretary of State said Britain was the first country to help Pakistan after October 8 earthquake.
British ambassador to Pakistan Mark Layall Grant was also present in the meeting. Hilary Benn said he came to Pakistan to express deep condolences on behalf of British government and people of Britain. He said the people of his country are shocked on this great tragedy and stand-by with the people and government of Pakistan in this critical time. He said the Britain has already been giving significant help to Pakistan in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation work. The Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn said during his stay in Pakistan he would also visit the quake affected areas of Muzaffarabad and Balakot to get initial assessment of the damage and then the needs of Pakistan would be presented in the forthcoming meeting of European Union being held next Monday. Hilary said, Britain as current President of EU, would also make efforts to motivate the EU to extend more help to Pakistan in rehabilitation and reconstruction work. He said he will inform the European Union development ministers who are meeting on Monday and International community about the situation and the needs of Pakistan so that more support could be provided. He appreciated relief and rescue work being done by the people of Pakistan and Army. He said his government would take more steps to help the affected people.
He said Britain knew that the affected areas badly need tents and blankets. Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Hilary said, they discussed the requirements of Pakistan particulary help in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the earthquake affected areas.
The Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed the British Secretary of State for International Development about the relief and rehabilitation work being done by Pakistan with the help of international community. Shaukat Aziz said more than 47,000 people died in the the worst earthquake in Pakistan’s history and over 67,000 are injured while more than three million are homeless. The Prime Minister said government of Pakistan has initiated a gigantic relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work, which need support from international community.