ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Britain’s International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, who is here to assess the damage caused by the Oct 8 earthquake, announced on Thursday an additional assistance of 20 million pounds, taking the total amount committed by the UK government to 33 million pounds.

Initially, the UK government had committed 13 million pounds.

Mr Benn, who also heads the British Agency for Earthquake Relief, called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Thursday. The talks focused on ongoing relief efforts in the affected areas of the country as well as measures regarding rehabilitation and reconstruction. In this context the assessment of the damage, the time and resources required for rehabilitation and reconstruction were also discussed.

Mr Benn, who also visited the quake-affected areas including Muzaffarabad and Mansehra, conveyed the profound sympathy and condolences of the government and people of the UK on the loss of life and property as a result of the earthquake, a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

He was appreciative of the spirit manifested by the people of Pakistan and the Pakistan origin community in Britain in helping the earthquake victims.

Mr Benn apprised the president about the relief flights that had been sent to Pakistan from the UK, which included 10 planes carrying tents and 16 flights with different relief assistance donated by the British public.

Mr Benn also informed the president that the EU development ministers meeting would be arranged in Leeds shortly to discuss earthquake relief to Pakistan besides the Donors Conference being held in Geneva on Oct 26 under the UN aegis. The UK is one of the major countries participating in both.

President Musharraf while briefing Mr Benn about the massive scale of death and physical destruction caused by the earthquake, underscored that the fast approaching winter necessitated redoubling the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The president maintained that the government was doing its best to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

The British international development secretary was told that the President’s Relief Fund had been established for the early rehabilitation of victims and the welfare of orphaned children. The president thanked Mr Benn for the UK’s prompt response to the earthquake in Pakistan and the timely and generous assistance being provided in the relief efforts.