ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The Foreign Office on Saturday said Pakistan would welcome rescue teams from countries that have offered relief assistance after a severe earthquake that had hit large parts of northern Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Appreciating the offers from ‘friendly governments,’ a Foreign Office statement said: “We are still in the process of assessing the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake. As soon as we have made the assessment, we would respond to the assistance offers, indicating our requirements. At present, we would welcome rescue teams.”

It is learnt that help from Turkey was the first to arrive in the form of relief goods and rescue teams aboard two C-130 aircraft. Help, in the form of rescue teams, equipment and aid is on the way from the UK, France, UAE, China and Japan.

Meanwhile, an Emergency Coordination Centre has been set up at the ministry of foreign affairs here.

According to an official statement, the centre will be manned round the clock and the officers on duty could be contacted for any information. Telephone number of the duty room is: 051-9207663 and the fax numbers are 051-9224205, 051-9224206 and 051-9205571.—QA