1st anniversary of Oct 8 calamity observed with solemnity

ISLAMABAD: The first anniversary of the October 08 deadly earthquake was marked Sunday with the governments’ firm resolve to rebuild the quake ravaged areas in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir.
The day was observed as the day of perseverance as the whole nation is fully determined to continue the gigantic work of rehabilitation and construction of the affected areas.
The day dawned with special prayers for the shuhada of earthquake and early rehabilitation of the affectees.
To commemorate the earthquake, one minute silence was observed at 8.52 a.m. across the country.Sirens were sounded one minute before the observance of silence. At least three districts of Azad Kashmir and five in the NWFP were badly affected in the earthquake.
In just few minutes the strong earthquake wiped out many villages, damaged infrastructure, killing more than seventy-three thousand people and left three point five million homeless.
The President has announced a relief package for the quake affectees.
General Pervez Musharraf who visited quake affected areas in Muzaffarabad, Mansehra, Garahi Habibullah and Chakothi said the government would mobilize all its sources for complete rehabilitation of the quake victims.
Meanwhile, The Prime Minister who also spent the day with the affected peoples in Bagh announced to meet all needs of Azad Kashmir Government to coup with the quake aftermaths.