President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday said Pakistan will postpone the purchase of F-16 aircraft from the United States in the face of large-scale relief and reconstruction tasks in the earthquake-hit areas but stressed that the country remained fully alive to its security concerns.
"I am going to postpone that (F-16s purchase) -but while we want to carry out massive relief and reconstruction effort, the other important issue is the security concern of Pakistan."
"So, we will never do something, which jeopardises one or the other - both have their own importance," he told newsmen while visiting the quake-battered AJK capital to express solidarity with the survivors.
President Musharraf commended the facilities being provided to the injured at the US field hospital and said he expected America to stay in the region in the reconstruction stage "as there is so much of work that needs to be done."
On international response to October 8's earthquake tragedy, the President said he is satisfied with the relief assistance provided to the country but said Pakistan expects the same level of help in the reconstruction stage as witnessed in the case of last year's Tsunami in South East Asia and earlier this year's Katrina hurricane in the United States.
President Musharraf said he would present a very correct picture of the tasks ahead to the international community at the Nov-19 donors' conference in Islamabad.
"We will present a picture of losses incurred and seek financial assistance into the President's Relief Fund for reconstructing houses, schools, colleges and hospitals or assistance in kind in the form of sponsoring of schools, colleges, hospitals or vi11ages."
VISITS QUAKE VICTIMS: Meanwhile, joining the earthquake-stricken people in Azad Kashmir and NWFP to express the nation's solidarity with them on Eidul Fitr, President General Pervez Musharraf has said he is resolute to rebuild their lives and reconstruct the shattered region through a consolidated approach.
"The entire Pakistani nation is with you, we will not rest until we bring life back to normal in the region," he declared, meeting the quake-affected people lodged in Thori tent village of Muzaffarabad on Friday.
The President, accompanied by the First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf, also visited the Turkish and US army field hospitals and enquired after the health of the injured getting treatment there.
The President flew into the hard-hit capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for his third visit to the mountainous zone inside a month since October 8, when a 7.6-magnitude temblor wrecked towns and cities, killing more than 73,000 people, injuring thousands and leaving millions homeless.
"I am here to convey my own and the entire nation's support and solidarity with you on Eidul Fitr, which we are observing with sobriety and simplicity because of the colossal human tragedy," he said.
Later, the president visited the quake-ruined town of Balakot in the North-Western Frontier Province and met with men, women and children in a relief camp. President Musharraf and the First Lady comforted the survivors and met with children affectionately on the occasion of the religious festival and said people all over the country stand with them in this calamity of immense proportions.
They also met with a newly wed couple in Balakot, whose wedding a few days ago, gave the troubled people of the once-thriving mountainous town something to cheer about and kindled new hopes for the future of the young generation.
President Musharraf presented gifts to the newly married couple and the First Lady gifted a set of gold ornaments to the bride.
Visiting a school set up by the Pakistan Army, he announced Rs 2000 each as Eidee for all students.
The president also addressed Pakistan army troops and praised their commitment to duty and spirit of service to the nation in providing prompt relief to the survivors in the quake zone, and for reaching out to the people in remote terrain.
He praised Pakistan army engineers for opening blocked roads and its medical teams for treating a large number of wounded people in the aftermath of the country's worst natural disaster. He visited a field hospital set up by a Chinese medical team. He appreciated the quality of service being rendered for treatment of the injured.
The president had an aerial view of other quake-hit areas, including Batagram, Allai, Jhelum Valley and Bagh to assess relief efforts.
Addressing the quake-hit people, President Musharraf pledged all-out efforts to provide shelter to the victims before subzero temperatures envelope the Himalayan regions.
"Our overriding priority at the moment is to save people from the harsh winter - tents are being procured from all around - they are also being manufactured locally on. "We are targeting tent cover for all affectees by end November.
"Those deciding to stay on mountain tops are being advanced Rs 25,000 each so that they may repair and re-erect shelters at the earliest," he said.
He also spoke briefly of reconstruction plans that envisage putting in place all kinds of infrastructure on modern lines. "We will go for quake-proof housing, schools and hospitals for you," he stated.
President Musharraf , who consoled the affected men and women encamped at various places, emphasised that it is inescapable duty of all segments to support the distressed people. "By sharing your sufferings, we are fulfilling our social and moral duty as enjoined by our religion -the government and the people will remain with you." He encouraged them to remain steadfast and assured them that the government has put into use all national resources for their early recovery in the wake of the enormous devastation.
The government, he said, would pay special attention to the orphaned children, unattended patients, and the widows, destitute women and trauma patients, who would be lodged at convalescence centres. "We will provide them healthcare, education and development opportunities," he vowed.
Later, President Musharraf flew back into Islamabad after spending the Eid day with the earthquake affectees.