Govt taking steps to provide relief to quake-affectees: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday visited District Divisional Headquarters Hospital, Mirpur to inquire about the health of the quake affectees, ARY News reported. 

He was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister AJK, Raja Farooq Haider and other government officials upon his arrival in Muzaffarabad.

Expressing his grief over the loss of human lives, PM Khan said, he was informed about the devastating quake, when he was in the US for UNGA session. “I wanted to visit soon, but was unable to do so.”

He said the affectees will not be left alone, the government will not take every possible measure to provide relief to them. On the occasion, PM was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Ali Amin Gandapur and other concerned authorities.

The death toll has jumped to 40, with more than 500 injured so far as rescue activities are underway in the area. At least 6,000 houses were destroyed completely, while 7100 cattle farms have been damaged in the quake.

The strong earthquake of 5.8-magnitude brought disasters to different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The quake hit some urban and rural parts of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) including Muzaffarabad, Kotli and many other scattered places.

Read more: Earthquake death toll rises to 40 in AJK

Japan on Wednesday had extended support for the victims of the devastating earthquake of 5.8 that hit several parts of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The help was offered by the Japanese ambassador to Pakistan in a telephonic conversation with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. General Muhammad Afzal.