UNITED NATIONS, Oct 14: Saying that the earthquake that struck Pakistan has been of unprecedented magnitude, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram said “Pakistan needs help, support and sympathy, rather than gratuitous criticism.”

Responding to criticism of inadequate response by Pakistan government to the calamity, Mr Akram pointed out “it takes time to mobilize all resources and assets, and nobody planned for a quake of this magnitude, of this extent and the scope, which has been unheard of and has been unprecedented. We haven’t had something like this for 100 years.”

“I think the best of planning is required, but we have to now respond to the situation we face. It’s a desperate situation. Pakistan needs help, support and sympathy, rather than gratuitous criticism,” he said in an interview with Public Television’s News Hour programme.

He observed that “by definition an emergency is something which is not fully planned for. And for a country like Pakistan, it is a country with limited capacity, both financial and technical. Therefore, I think that people, of course the people of Pakistan have responded generously. Individuals have contributed.”

In response to a question about the aid offer from India and the “sensitivity” of Pakistan Mr Akram said “well, of course there are sensitivities involved, but the prime minister of India phoned our president, and the president readily accepted the assistance, and it has been transported across the established points of our border, and that aid has come in, and we are grateful for that assistance.”