PESHAWAR, Nov 16: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has said that the massive destruction caused by earthquake in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir warranted large-scale relief and rehabilitation work. He expressed the hope that with the generous assistance of international community Pakistan would be able to overcome the after-effects of this most devastating calamity in the history of the country.

Talking to a 10-member German delegation comprising media experts, researchers and reporters that called on him at the Governor House here on Wednesday, he said the government had diverted all its resources to helping the quake victims.

Members of the delegation asked questions about the relief and rehabilitation operation in the affected areas. The governor told them that five districts of the province had suffered huge destruction with Balakot being the worst affected where losses were beyond imagination.

He praised the world community for its immediate response to the disaster by sending in rescue and relief teams as well as relief supplies. He, however, said that the other commitments made by the international community were yet to materialize.

A lot more has to be done as the huge task of rehabilitation and reconstruction remains, requiring enormous financial as well as material resources, he continued. Responding to a question regarding relief operations, the governor said that a lot of relief work had been carried out during one month and most of the stricken people had been provided temporary shelter in tent villages. He said the government swiftly responded to the situation that helped a lot in saving precious lives.

Mr Rehman said the government was concerned about disruption in educational activities in the quake zone as almost all schools and colleges there had either collapsed or were unable to be used for teaching.

He, however, said the government had initiated academic activities in the area by opening prefabricated and tent schools.