President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a meeting here on Thursday reviewed relief operations in quake-hit areas and expressed their resolve that reconstruction in these areas would be carried out on modern lines.
The president and the prime minister, who both visited the quake-stricken areas and met the people, discussed at length the steps being taken for further enhancing relief and medical assistance in the hard-hit areas.
On world response to the calamity, both the leaders expressed Pakistan's gratitude to the international community for immediate assistance in the critical hour for the nation and underscored the importance of sustained assistance, which is required in the colossal phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Both the leaders discussed the scope of the newly established Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra), which has been tasked to undertake an immediate assessment regarding all aspects of the damage for efficient planning and effective execution of the reconstruction stage.
They observed that rehabilitation of the quake-affected people would also require a comprehensive approach as millions of lives will have to be rebuilt.
Later, the president and the prime minister were joined by Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority Head Lieutenant General Muhammad Zubair and Federal Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq Ahmed Khan, who briefed them on various actions being carried out by their respective organisations.
Both the leaders directed that the reconstruction work in the quake-damaged areas has to be done in consultation with the affected people, local government and civil administration of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).