Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and army to assist in relief activities in areas of southwest Pakistan affected by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake. Sharif,who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly,directed the Chairman of the NDMA to keep him updated on the losses and relief and evacuation measures. The federal government will provide all possible assistance to the victims and the NDMA and Pakistan Army should assist the local administration in relief activities,Sharif was quoted as saying in an official statement. The quake,with its epicentre in a remote area of Balochistan province,killed at least 32 people and injured dozens more. Sharif expressed grief at the loss of lives and property due to the earthquake in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. He directed the administration in the quake-hit areas to provide all assistance to the people on priority basis.
