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Pakistan Jolted by Two Devastating Earthquakes

[Peshawar] Two earthquakes jolted the south-western district of Baluchistan in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
 
Pakistani state-run television has so far confirmed the deaths of at least 150 people, but experts fear the numbers will climb considerably in the next few days as the full extent of the destruction is revealed to the rescue teams.  
 
The local meteorological institute is warning that the aftershocks are likely to last for a week. 
 
The magnitude of the first earthquake measured 5 on the Richter scale. The second, more powerful, tremor measured 6.5.
 
"There is no scientific or systematic policy on the government level to counter such catastrophes," The Media Line’s (TML) correspondent in Pakistan said.
 
“Non-governmental organizations are sending medicines, blankets and food items to this area but there is a very discouraging response from the government departments," added the correspondent. 
 
A somewhat ironic situation has developed in Baluchistan, where government forces are today working alongside the local rebels to rescue those affected by the quake.
 
The same situation occurred in 2005 following an earthquake in Kashmir, where more than 80,000 people were killed.
 
TML’s correspondent said that many religious and rebel organizations were providing blankets, medicines and all types of assistance to the affected people.  
 
Pakistan is currently going through a serious economic crisis and the government is short of money and relief goods. Pakistan is therefore expected to call on the international community to send assistance.