President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday appealed to the nation to remain steadfast in its concerted efforts and pray to Allah Almighty for overcoming the earthquake-caused disaster.
The President, who himself monitored relief operations throughout the day and ordered immediate army help for mitigating sufferings of affected people, also appealed to philanthropists to contribute generously to the President's Relief Fund.
"I appeal to philanthropists to donate generously to the fund; fulfil their responsibility toward affected people in their hour of need," he stated.
President Musharraf, who received regular updates on extent of damage in the wake of the earthquake, issued instructions for prompt operations by C-130 and MI-15 helicopters to reach out to injured and trapped people in far-flung areas.
The President, earlier, during a meeting with the Prime Minister, issued instructions to federal and provincial governments to speed up rescue and relief activities to minimise loss of life and provide best medical treatment to the injured. In the afternoon, he also visited the F-10 sector site of collapsed Margala towers and reviewed the rescue operations.
Meanwhile, two C-130 planes from Turkey carrying relief supplies and engineering experts in rescue operations are expected to arrive sometime Saturday evening. More relief supplies are also expected to reach shortly from other friendly countries.