China ready to set up ‘seismographic network’ in Pakistan
From Javed Akhtar ( APP)

BEIJING—China is willing to help Pakistan in field of seismology including monitoring and handling of earthquake disaster, said Chen Jianmin, a senior official of China Earthquake Administration.
As a close neighbouring and friendly countries, we can work together on long-term basis, developing a strong methodology to deal with the natural disaster,” he said while talking to APP.
China is also a country of many natural disasters, and it has had related experiences, he said adding, “Asian nations have a responsibility and an obligation to support each other in such a situation”.
He said China and Pakistan can set up seismographic network, “a system of seismographs, data processing and data transmission. China can give instruments, technical support, training and studies to this effect”, he added.
The Earthquake Administration in China is responsible for the comprehensive research and applications in seismology, geomagnetism, physics of the Earth’s interior, observational seismology, engineering seismology and socio-seismology.
According to the sources, China currently engaged in scientific exchange and cooperation with its counterparts in more than 40 countries and regions in the seismological field. It has signed bilateral agreements with more than 20 countries and regions.
China attaches great importance in construction of a digital seismic observation system and upgrading of an earthquake precursor observation network. This project started in 1996. The goal of this project was to improve earthquake monitoring and prediction, using digital equipment to replace analogue equipment.
The sources said the Chinese rescue team spent 11 days in Pakistan in wake of devastated earthquake and actively participated in search and rescue operation in earthquake-hit areas.
The 49-member team discovered and pulled out three survivors from quake rubble and treated 591 wounded villagers in and around Balacot. The Chinese team was one of the only two international rescue teams that have rescued survivors alive in Balacot. The other one is the French team,” said team leader Zhao Heping, director of China Seismological Bureau.
According to Zhao, Chinese team judged the situation right. Balacot turned out to be nearly the most heavily stricken areas in Pakistan. The team went there directly and of the over 20 international rescue teams, it was the first to arrive,” he said.
Zhao said besides the rescue operation, they also sent five disaster evaluation reports to the United Nations relief coordination center, and the Chinese team also assumed the role of UN Rescue Mission Coordinator in the area. Every night, rescue teams from different countries gathered in the Chinese camp to share information and plan for next day’s work.
Pakistan ambassador Salman Bashir who received the Chinese team on its return at the Beijing airport appreciated its timely assistance, and welcomed the offer of promoting Sino-Pak cooperation in the seismological field.