She was speaking on the subject of "Responses to the Earthquake: The role of the Pakistani media " organised by Pakistan Society at London School of Economics (LSE) here late Monday. A large number of Pakistani and foreign students attended the event.
Dr Lodhi told them that a rough estimate so far had been 5 billion dollars while Pakistani authorities and international agencies had three to four weeks to get emergency supplies to the far off areas.
The civil and military administrations were making all possible efforts to meet the challenging task. They were fully backed by an unprecedented spirit shown by Pakistani and Kashmiri people to help their brothers and sisters in distress.
The survivors, she said, were facing twin dangers of the upcoming winter and infections, as half of those affected by the disaster are children.
Dr Lodhi said the government would not be satisfied until it ensured supply of tents, blankets and needed medicines to the affected people. She appreciated the role of the electronic and print media for highlighting the natural catastrophe. Their extensive coverage both galvanised the nation and in some instances provided guidance to the relief authorities.
The envoy paid special tributes to British Pakistanis and British civil society for their generous contributions to funds being collected by various charities. She said British civil society helped the Disasters Emergency Committee, comprising 13 different UK-based charities including Islamic Relief to raise 15 million pounds, which indicated its compassion towards those suffering as a result of the quake.
Answering a question, she said despite the fact that television channels beamed images of quake-devastation into living rooms of the people which generated a big response, but a deeper analysis of issues was still done by the print media both in Britain and in Pakistan.
She told another questioner that, of the 600 million dollars, pledged by the international community so far, 70 percent of it had come from the Muslim countries.
The incharge of the current affairs Geo Amir Ghouri and head of the current affairs PTV Prime Moeed Pirzada on the occasion told the gathering that how the independent TV channels had helped highlight the plight of the quake survivors. Their coverage helped motivate the people to participate in rescue and relief operation in a big way.
Riszan Ehdi, a representative of the Edhi Foundation UK said Pakistan Army was doing a splendid relief work in the quake-ravaged areas but people should keep in mind the difficult terrain the army and the international aid agencies had to operate. He said Edhi Foundation was the first to provide ambulance service in the earthquake-hit areas.
He said Edhi Foundation had collected 500,000 pounds from Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester in just ten days and hoped to raise more money for the victims.
Pakistan Society LSE President Sheharyar Malik and Social Secretary Jibran Sethi on the occasion said that they would help the Edhi Foundation to collect funds for the quake-victims.