Thousands of families who survived Pakistan’s 2005 earthquake and subsequent brutal winter in temporary shelters, have begun the hard but necessary task of rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. This is quite a challenge given that this was the worst earthquake in the nation’s history, with the total devastation of homes, schools, health units and livestock in many quake-hit areas. Besides, Spring brings with it melting snow and monsoon rains, which along with the tremors, increases the risk of landslides. IFANCA, Halal Consumer magazine’s parent company, collected donations and has made its own contribution to President Musharraf’s Relief Fund. None of the collections were used towards administrative expenses. Readers are urged to continue contributing to this cause as the need remains dire.

Funding for relief efforts isn’t adequate, say U.N. officials who have collected only $133 million of the $550 million they requested following the earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and sent over 1,000 aftershocks across the region.