BBC Journalist and noted artist, Durdana Ansari, who has spent one and a half month in earthquake hit areas of NWFP and Kashmir, Thursday commended the efforts being made by Pakistan Army and domestic and international NGOs to render relief work, extend medical care and rehabilitate the affectees.

Now in Houston, she told APP in a telephonic interview Thursday that the negative publicity found in some media reports was baseless. Durdana referred to the enormity of the calamity and rugged topography, and said those in the field had done remarkably in reaching out the remote and inaccessible areas of over 7000 feet by helicopters and other means.

"It is correct, that international aid was not instantly available, but there have been exemplary instances of courage and commitment in extending relief to the sufferers. The weather is becoming acute and treacherous, but the relief work continues at full pace," she added.

Commenting on medical aid reaching the victims, she said much of the injured were shifted either to CMH Rawalpindi or PIMS Islamabad, and it was amazing to find the doctors undertook 30 operations per day.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005