Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told reporters Saturday that rebuilding Pakistan after the devastating earthquake will cost some 5 billion US dollars.

"It will take 10 years for the affected areas to get back," said the prime minister.

The Pakistani government put the death toll at 38,000 on Saturday and said 62,000 were injured, about 3 million people have been affected.

Aziz said the death toll might increase as more places are being searched and more bodies are being excavated.

The government has decided to establish an Earthquake Rehabilitation Authority to coordinate the relief and rebuilding efforts, he said, adding the authority will comprise representatives from different departments and will be under the leadership of the prime minister.

Aziz said the relief operation which is focusing on cities and towns at the moment will cover more areas, especially remote villages.

He said the government will issue daily report to inform the public about the needs of different affected areas and guide the distribution of relief goods.

As some local officials were also killed in the earthquake, the government faced difficulties in the early stage of the rescue and relief operation.

"Local administrations are being restored. We get more organized every day," said Aziz.

Aziz said what the affected areas need most urgently at the moment is shelter as the winter is coming.

The government is restoring the communication facility in the affected areas and the mobile phone service has been reestablished in some areas, said Aziz.

Responding to questions why some residents are leaving the devastated cities such as Muzaffarabad, Aziz said residents in some northern areas have the tradition to leave for other regions in the winter.

He said the government will set up camps near the affected areas to accommodate the victims. "They have reasons to leave. They also have reasons to stay there also."

Source: Xinhua