RAWALPINDI, Nov 7: The federal government has earmarked Rs20 billion for payment to earthquake victims in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir as an immediate measure to mitigate their sufferings.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held here on Monday with President General Pervez Musharraf in the chair. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and senior officials involved in relief efforts attended the meeting.

The meeting decided that Rs25,000 would be given for each affected house; Rs100,000 to be paid to families which lost a member or members and Rs25,000 to 50,000 to each injured. A portion of the amount has already been given to the NWFP and Azad Kashmir governments.

The prime minister has directed the governments of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir to expedite payment among the affected people and ensure transparency in the process.

The president and the prime minister reviewed the pace of relief work and expressed their resolve to provide shelter to the affected people as soon as possible.

Matters pertaining to an international donors’ conference to be held here on November 19 were also discussed at the meeting.