LUXEMBOURG, Oct 18: European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday promised to help Pakistan rebuild northern areas of the country devastated by the recent earthquake. EU governments would be ”generous” in providing Islamabad with reconstruction assistance in addition to their immediate humanitarian aid response to the tragedy, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters.

Mr Straw did not give any figures but earlier officials had said ministers were considering a grant of about 100 million euros to Pakistan. It was not clear, however, if this would be fresh assistance or a reorientation of the EU’s current 150 million euro annual aid programme for the country.

The most urgent need was to provide Pakistan with ”assistance in kind”, including winterised tents, Mr Straw said.

A statement issued by the 25 EU governments said the European Commission must ”explore all possible ways to fund additional post-emergency, long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation actions.”

Officials said several ministers had warned that a failure by the EU to deliver quick aid to Pakistan could encourage anti-western religious parties to argue that Europeans were not giving enough help to the country.

The European Commission has so far given 13.6 million euros in emergency assistance to Pakistan, with EU member states providing an additional 60 million euros worth of relief aid.

EU officials warned that finding fresh funds for Pakistan would be difficult because of pressure on the EU budget.