Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said Pakistan will overcome the calamity caused by the earthquake with its own resources.
The Prime Minister cut short his stay in London for a day and left for Pakistan to deal with the aftermath of the quake.
Sharif confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had phoned him and offered assistance. He appreciated the gesture by the Indian Prime Minister but did not say whether Pakistan would accept the offer.
The Prime Minister said he will personally monitor the ongoing relief efforts.
He appreciated the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for their relief work.
The quake has brought more devastation in the mountainous region but Pakistan would try to utilise its own resources to help the victims of the devastating earthquake on October 26, Sharif said.
'Pakistan not seeking foreign aid after quake'
Pakistani Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said that the country would not seek international aid for the people affected by the powerful earthquake that killed nearly 250 people and displaced thousands of others.
Monday's earthquake struck most parts of Pakistan but caused more damage in the northwestern parts of the country, officials said.
Pakistani authorities are still in the process of damage assessment as the tremors hit remote and mountainous regions and getting complete information will take more time.
Rashid said the government has the resources to deal with the situation and will not appeal for international aid.
"We have all the required items and there is no need to call for foreign aid," the minister told a news conference in Islamabad.
The minister's statement came after the international community offered assistance.
Rashid, who accompanied Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to an area worst affected by the earthquake in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, said Sharif personally reviewed the rescue and relief operations.
He said the Prime Minister met the affected people and got briefings on damage and relief activities.
The information minister said that banned groups would not be allowed to raise funds for the quake-affected people as these groups achieve their goals under the pretext of charity work.
