ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The government has decided to hold a donors' conference to seek more help from the international community to mitigate the sufferings of flood-hit people and stabilise the economy crippled by the floods.

The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday.

The meeting decided to immediately hold a donors' conference in Islamabad under the auspices of the Pakistan Development Forum. “The foreign ministry has been asked to immediately start preparation for the conference,” presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

The meeting also looked into steps taken for preventing the outbreak of epidemics in the affected areas.

It decided to pay Rs20,000 to each affected family in the initial stage. The first instalment of Rs5,000 will be disbursed immediately.