RAWALPINDI, Oct 9: Assuring the nation of all-out rescue and relief effort, President General Pervez Musharraf on Sunday asked the international community to assist Pakistan with supplies of medicine, tents, cargo helicopters and cash to overcome the country’s worst earthquake.

“We do seek international assistance. We have enough manpower but we need financial support so that we may utilize it in a required way to cope with the tragedy. Then there is a need for large supplies of medicines, tents and cargo helicopters to reach out people in far-flung and cut-off areas, the bigger these copters the better,” he said in Rawalpindi prior to his departure on an visit to the quake-hit areas.

He thanked leaders of foreign countries who called him in the aftermath of the tragedy and offered their condolences and assistance.

The president said that it was too early to give an exact figure about the loss of lives, but they could be in the range of 15 to 18 thousand dead as per latest reports.

President Musharraf said there had been reports of extensive damage in Muzaffarabad, 50 per cent of the hilly city facing devastation as a number of schools and hospitals had collapsed and children were trapped inside.

In Mansehra and Balakot areas, there have been massive losses, he said.

He added about 80 people had been evacuated from the debris of the flattened Margalla Tower in the F-10 sector of Islamabad while 35 people had lost their lives. In addition, another 150 persons were said to be trapped under the rubble.

He appealed to the Pakistanis abroad to assist the government through donations to the relief fund.

“Allah has given you a lot and today your nation requires your support – I appeal to you to donate generously.”

He assured that all contributions made to the Fund would be accounted for and transparency observed with regard to the expenditure.

The president expressed his heartfelt condolences over the loss of lives and assured the stricken people that all available sources would be used for their early recovery, relief and rehabilitation.

“The Pakistani nation deserves all appreciation and encouragement for their immediate voluntary response to the calamity as they extended assistance to the government agencies in redressing the crisis,” he said.

“This is the same spirit we have to persist with in tackling the situation.”

In the last 24 hours, all national resources, including civil and military agencies, have been mobilized to overcome the damage wrought by earthquake.

In Islamabad, military and civil organizations are working to save maximum lives. In Muzaffarabad and Mansehra, Pakistan army has been directed to put all resources into use to support public in this hour of difficulty.

“All aviation helicopters have been employed and C-130 of PAF are also ready - but we should see that both routes to Muzaffarabad - through Murree and Abbottabad - have been blocked due to damage caused to roads.

In this situation, only helicopters can be helpful in rescue and relief operations. Similarly, in Mansehra and adjoining areas helicopters are delivering the services as C-130 cannot land there due to lack of landing strip.

He appealed that there was a need to refrain from a blame game as army and all public organizations were contributing to the relief effort.

“Let’s together support and encourage each other in carrying out the challenging task successfully.”

“I know that whenever our nation is confronted with a danger or a tragedy of such scale, we emerge as a united force and I am fully confident that the people will extend their fullest support, both in cash and kind, to mitigate the sufferings of the affected people.”

The president later visited Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Hazara division in the NWFP and reviewed rescue and relief operations. He assured the people of using all national resources for early redress of their sufferings.

He began his visit from Mansehra and Battal areas of the NWFP.

Addressing the local people, he said: “The entire nation stands by you in this hour of trial. The civilian and military organizations are carrying out concerted operations to pull the people out of this difficult situation,” he said.

He had a firsthand account of the extent of the damage and ascertained the assistance required for rehabilitation of the people through his interaction with them.

He also had an aerial view of Balakot, one of the worst-hit areas.

During his visit to Muzaffarabad, the president was briefed about the destruction by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat.

Outlining the priorities, President Musharraf said the first and foremost consideration was evacuation of people trapped in the debris of flattened structures.

“Then we must supply food, medicine and tents to the people rendered homeless,” he said.

He instructed the Frontier Works Organization to strive for the earliest possible reopening of the Muzaffarabad-Kohala-Murree road so that relief goods could be transported promptly.

“We have sought international assistance in reaching out to the cut-off areas and are working ceaselessly to overcome difficulties in transporting relief supplies”.

He visited Bagh and the army unit affected in the area. He also went to Rawalakot and addressed the local people, telling them that the best possible assistance was on its way to the victims.—APP