ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: The federal cabinet on Thursday decided to review rules and regulations regarding buildings to avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by the Oct 8 earthquake which has left at least 25,000 people dead.

Briefing journalists later, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that building codes and regulations would be reviewed with a view to ensuring safety of residents.

He said that information about death and destruction caused in the Neelum and Jhelum valleys was likely to be received by weekend after which the government would release latest figures.

“At present it is not possible to come out with accurate assessment of the destruction, as 15 to 20 per cent of the affected area has not been reached,” Mr Ahmed said. “However, with the opening of link roads it is being hoped that within a couple of days the picture will be clear.”

The cabinet decided that steps for compensation and rehabilitation of the affected would be undertaken on an urgent basis. It was decided that an organization would be formed to carry out the massive work of rehabilitation.

The minister said that a huge amount of aid was reaching the country and added that the President’s Relief Fund had so far received Rs1.7 billion, besides $360 million from abroad.

He advised donors to hand over tents, blankets, medicines and eatable items to army camps in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi or railway stores instead of transporting it themselves as their movement towards Muzaffarabad and Bagh areas was creating traffic problems. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had removed duty on the import of blankets and tents.

Each and every affected house and city will be rebuilt under a certain plan and the government has already committed Rs2 billion and Rs1 billion to the AJK and NWFP governments for the purpose, respectively.

He said the cabinet had decided to set up tentage villages to provide immediate housing for the affected and to ensure provision of medical care and other facilities to them.

Mr Ahmed said the prime minister had directed the foreign affairs ministry to issue instructions to missions abroad to adopt a pro-active approach in mobilizing overseas Pakistanis to donate generously in the relief fund.

He said the cabinet had decided that the government employees of grade 1-16 would donate their one-day salary to the relief fund and those working in grade 17 and above would give three days’ salary.

The cabinet appreciated the response of various governments and agencies to calls for providing relief and financial assistance to the earthquake victims.