Pakistan PM visits earthquake-hit areas

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew into a mountainous region in the country's northwest on Tuesday to review rescue and relief efforts, a day after a powerful earthquake killed over 228 people and displaced thousands others.

Monday's 8.1-magnitude earthquake stuck most parts of Pakistan but caused more damages in the northwestern parts of the country, officials said.

A high level meeting presided over by Sharif was informed on Tuesday that 228 people have been killed in the powerful earthquake. A total of 1,620 people are injured, a statement from the PM's office said.

The Prime Minister visited Shangla, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and badly affected by the earthquake, to personally get updated about the rescue and relief operations.

"The Prime Minister met earthquake affected people there and received briefing on the damage caused by the earthquake in the area," officials accompanying the prime minister said.

Governor of the province Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan and Chairman the National Disaster Management Authority Asghar Nawaz accompanied the prime minister.

Earlier the prime minister convened an emergency meeting in Islamabad on the damages and measures after the earthquake hit different parts of the country.

"The state resources will be fully utilised and provided to assist the provincial governments in rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the affected people," Sharif told the meeting.

He said that the government would announce a relief package for the affected people of the earthquake after comprehensive assessment reports by the concerned authorities.

He added that the federal government will provide all possible assistance and support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the tribal regions, the most affected by the earthquake.

"The government is capable enough to rescue and rehabilitate those affected by the earthquake and every effort will be made to help the fellow citizens in distress," he said. Enditem