ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: It was a day of remembrance, and also a day of soul-searching.

Exactly a year ago, a devastating earthquake had struck Azad Kashmir and parts of the NWFP, leaving 73,000 dead and 3.5 million homeless.

Grief-stricken but united in mourning with the earthquake survivors, the nation on Sunday morning observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those killed by the deadly temblor.

Sirens were sounded at 8.52am – the exact time at which the earthquake hit the unsuspecting citizens of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP – and were followed by countrywide prayers for the dead.

But the spirit of camaraderie was accompanied by angry demonstrations by earthquake victims who, upset with a patchy reconstruction and rehabilitation effort, complained that they would have to spend another harsh winter in makeshift tarpaulin tents.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf told earthquake victims in Mansehra and other places that the government was doing all it could to help them get to their feet.

“At least Rs50 billion has already been distributed among the victims to help them rebuild their houses in Azad Kashmir and the NWFP. Those who have not yet received the house-building funds will soon get them,” he promised.

Wearing a beige shalwar kameez and dark sunglasses, the president also promised that natural gas would be provided to Batagram and the adjoining towns of Mansehra.

Earlier, he visited Muzaffarabad where he laid a floral wreath at a book-shaped monument in a sombre memorial service.

He later opened a sixty-bed hospital in Garhi Habibullah in the NWFP. The hospital has been set up by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society. He also opened a girls school in Chakothi.

The president paid a visit to Balakot, which was completely flattened by the earthquake, and announced that at least 5,000 houses would be built there. He said Saudi Arabia would provide funds for the project.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz inaugurated a school built by the United States Agency for International Development in Dhadar village in the NWFP.

Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker announced that the United States would train 30,000 teachers and build 50 schools in the quake-affected areas.

The prime minister later visited Bagh and opened a 60-bed hospital which is being established by Belgium. He announced that an engineering university would soon be established in Azad Kashmir.

In Islamabad, survivors held a vigil to remember the people crushed to death when the quake brought down an upscale 10-storey apartment block called Margalla Towers.