Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif chaired an emergency high-level meeting to review the situation in the country and the progress of relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that shook the northern areas of Pakistan earlier yesterday.
The high-level meeting was also being attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, DG ISPR Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa, DG Military Operations Sahir Shamshad, Chairman NHA Shahid Ashraf Tarrar, Secretary Cabinet Raja Hassan, federal ministers, and other officials.
According to the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), over 2,500 houses have been completely destroyed across the country by the deadly 8.1-magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful quakes to jolt the country.
Over 240 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured when the quake hit Pakistan’s northern areas at 2:09PM on Monday.
Earlier before his departure for Pakistan after cutting short his stay in London, the prime minister directed concerned authorities to utilise all available resources for the relief and rescue of earthquake-affected people.
He said that Pakistan would try to use its own resources to help victims of the devastating earthquake.
“It’s sad and devastating. I have directed that every kind of help should be provided to the victims. I pray that the Almighty Allah give patience to those who have suffered losses and grant a place in heaven to those who have been martyred,” he said.
Sharif said that he had spoken to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and assured him that he would help the victims fully and that the federal government would provide all possible assistance to the worst-hit KP province.
The prime minister cut short his stay in London for a day and left for Pakistan to deal with the aftermath of the quake. The prime minister said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was working effectively to deal with the aftermath but he would be taking the charge himself once he arrives in Pakistan.
Read : At least 228 dead in Pakistan quake, relief efforts underway
