Pakistan collects earthquake damages data: official

Pakistani officials said on Friday that survey teams are busy gathering data of damages in areas affected by Monday's powerful earthquake.

The earthquake mostly affected the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and its adjoining tribal regions.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority Major General Asghar Nawaz told a joint press conference in Islamabad that hundreds of teams have been deputed to expedite the work.

They said the teams consist of representatives of army, local government and district administration.

The federal and provincial governments have also announced relief package for the affected people.

Nawaz said eight helicopters, three C-130s and two Fokker aircraft are engaged in relief activities.

Three relief camps and 27 distribution points have jointly been established by army and district administration in the affected areas.

The Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the government has no plan to seek foreign aid and will carry out relief activities through own resources.

"Let me say that a number of countries and the UN have offered assistance in the wake of 26 October earthquake. We are grateful for this expression of support and solidarity," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said.

"The government is responding effectively to the situation, through its own resources," he said at his weekly briefing. Endit