[Dawn] With the death toll from Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Awaran and Kech districts of Balochistan rising to 515, the federal and provincial governments and the army jointly pledged on Friday to continue relief work despite security threats being faced by rescue teams in the insurgency-infested area of Awaran.The dead include women and children. More than 600 people have been injured in quake-related incidents, according to official estimates.
During a visit of Awaran by a high-level delegation, which included federal ministers, opposition leaders and senior army officers, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan offered on behalf of the prime minister a "blank cheque" for relief activities. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif pledged financial assistance and government jobs in his province for unemployed engineers and graduates from Awaran.
But the Sindh chief minister showed more generosity by announcing Rs50 million to help Balochistan cope with the gigantic challenge of rescue and relief.
Briefing Quetta-based journalists who are on a two-day visit to Awaran, the Chief Secretary of Balochistan, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, said: "So far we have received confirmed reports of death of at least 515 people and injuries to over 600. He said the deaths had occurred in Mashkay, Gishkore and Mallar.