The WEF Executive Director Robert Bell House, who called on the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at PM House, said the Forum through its global membership would share the gravity of disaster with all stakeholders to help the affected people lead a normal life.
Bell House who visited the affected areas said he had seen widespread damage caused by earthquake and added difficult terrain and lack of accessibility had made the relief and rescue work very challenging.
Prime Minister Aziz informed the WEF Executive Director the extent of damage caused by the earthquake and said the government had set up two agencies to co-ordinate different segments of relief, rescue, reconstruction and rehabilitation. The Prime Minister said the relief and rescue work was on an advanced stage but said it would be undertaken in parallel with the rehabilitation and reconstruction programme. He also informed him of Pakistan's requirements in this regard.
Robert Bell House said the World Economic Forum had separate cells for helping the countries facing disaster. The cell provided assistance, both in the rehabilitation of affected areas and for raising funds for disaster management.
He said the World Economic Forum, by virtue of having as members - 100 leading companies, provides an excellent Forum for contact with the Corporate World.
The Prime Minister appreciated the assistance rendered by the international community, NGOs and individuals in the relief and rescue operations and said the efforts needed to be sustained.