ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali will shortly visit earthquake-hit northern areas in the Astore valley to see for himself the suffering of some 24,000 affected people.

The deputy chief executive of Northern Areas, Fida Mohammad Nashad, who was here in connection with channelling the relief goods and to meet the highups in the federal capital, gave a resume of the relief activity while talking to Dawn on Monday.

Earlier, the PM had planned to visit the area on Dec 22 but the intervening visit of Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, vote of confidence, and his five-day visit to Saudi Arabia, delayed the visit.

A summery has now been moved by Kana for his proposed visit, DCE Northern Areas said.

Twenty-nine people died in the earthquake, but their families were still waiting compensation as their case had been prepared by the Northern Areas administration and is yet to be approved by the cabinet division.

Nashad said that only about 4,500 tents were distributed among the earthquake victims and over 7,000 more were still required.

He said the rate of compensation for every dead bread-earner was Rs50,000, and Rs30,000 per child. Damaged homes and other property would also be compensated.

He regretted that the international community had not responded generously, except for Turkey which had announced an amount of $100,000 for relief.

He, however, lauded the efforts of the army in undertaking immediate rescue operations and the relief activity launched by Edhi Foundation, cabinet division, Kana, MSF Holland, Focus, Islamic Relief Organization, Al-Rashid Trust, and other NGOs.