LONDON, Nov 18: Britain on Thursday pledged 70 million pound sterling for reconstruction of the quake-affected areas of the NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, sources in the Department of International Development (DFID) said here. DFID Junior Minister Gareth Thomas left for Islamabad on Thursday to represent Britain at the international donors’ conference, the sources said.

The new pledge brings the UK’s total support to Pakistan, for both relief and reconstruction, to over 100 million pound sterling. Britain has become the second largest bilateral donor of post-earthquake relief funds after the US.

The amount would “be paid out over a period of 3 years to help fund rebuilding in the quake-affected areas,” DFID’s Secretary of State Hilary Benn said in a statement on Thursday.

The secretary had paid a visit to quake-devastated areas last month and had stated on his return that the quake had flattened towns and affected people were in urgent need of shelter.

Mr Thomas before his departure to Islamabad said he hoped the British pledge would encourage other countries to follow suit with substantial reconstruction pledges of their own.

“Round-the-clock relief work continues as winter sets in and we try to prevent further suffering and loss of life. But we must also help Pakistan begin to rebuild schools, hospitals and homes which were destroyed by the quake. The UK is giving generously and it urges others to do so too,” said Mr Thomas.

He said Britain would continue to “monitor needs as they arise and respond as part of the international community”.

—APP