QUETTA, Nov 3: NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti handed over a blank cheque to his Balochistan counterpart Nawab Aslam Raisani for relief and rehabilitation of people affected by last week’s earthquake.

Addressing a press conference along with Mr Raisani here on Monday, he appealed to the international community and donors to come forward and extend help to overcome the crisis.

He assured all possible help to the Balochistan government in the rehabilitation process in the quake-hit areas.

After arriving from Peshawar, the NWFP chief minister visited the Bolan Medical College Hospital.

“Much has been done regarding relief in the quake-hit areas and now the stage of rehabilitation is going to begin,” he said.

He announced that a team of earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation authority from the NWFP would soon visit the affected areas to assess the requirements of the victims.

“Even if a few roads and development projects are not completed in Pakhtunkhwa, the amount we are contributing for rehabilitation would surely be of benefit to the quake-affected people and the Balochistan government which was already facing serious financial problems,” Mr Hoti said.

Underlining the importance of provincial autonomy, he said Balochistan and Pakhtunkhwa would emerge financially stable provinces if they became autonomous.

Nawab Raisani thanked Mr Hoti for his generous donation.

He said the provincial government was using all available resources for early completion of the rehabilitation process.

He said that all the federating units should get autonomy so that they could use their resources for their development and prosperity.

He announced construction of the Punjab, Sindh and Pakhtunkhwa houses in Ziarat and said that he would invite Mr Hoti to visit the scenic valley of Ziarat after restoration of the region.