LAHORE, Oct 18: Pakistan Red Crescent Society chairman Altaf M. Salim has said the magnitude of destruction caused by the earthquake is much worse than what is being shown on the television.

He was speaking after receiving a cheque for 100,000 euros from Total-Parco Pakistan chief executive officer Emmanuel Lawrenty for relief work in the quake affected areas here on Tuesday.

Mr Salim said proper teamwork and management were necessary for making the relief work effective and avoiding wastage of resources.

He said Pakistan Red Crescent was coordinating with the Punjab government and 10 Corps in Northern Areas for relief work in the affected areas. It had also decided to take over a field hospital set up by Belgians in Azad Kashmir and send a team of five doctors there. The hospital would remain operational as long as it was necessary.

He said the Red Crescent had also arranged import of 20,000 blankets and 5,000 tents from Dubai as the price of blanket available in local market had gone up from Rs250 to Rs750 after quake.

He said a Pakistani company had also offered to build low-cost steel frame houses for the quake victims. A house could be built for Rs150,000 in two days. — Reporter