ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: The international community has pledged $2 billion for earthquake relief and reconstruction work while more than Rs6 billion has been received in the President’s Relief Fund through domestic mobilization, the federal cabinet was informed on Tuesday.

The cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz decided that ministers and senior government officials would spend Eid with victims in quake-stricken areas to share their grief.

The festival will be observed with sobriety and solemnity to express solidarity with victims. The cabinet members will also visit schools, hospitals, orphan homes, crisis centres and tent villages on Eid day.

The meeting appreciated opening of camps at certain points along the Line of Control where relief and medical assistance would be available to the affected and which would facilitate meeting between divided families across the LoC.

The foreign secretary briefed the meeting about the procedure agreed upon by Pakistan and India for facilitating the crossing of LoC by the quake victims, especially members of divided families.

The cabinet expressed satisfaction over the pace of distribution of tents, blankets and other relief material among victims.

It was informed that about 265,000 tens and 3.3 million blankets had been distributed and the government would ensure the availability of blankets and tents to every survivor within this month.

The meeting expressed the resolve that that no one in the earthquake-stricken areas would be allowed to face starvation.

APPROVAL: The cabinet approved federalization of the Hoshab-Panjgur-Nag-Baseema Sorab Road to provide an efficient means of transportation up to the Gwadar port.