(Pakistani govern)ment has been defending itself from criticism that it hasn’t reached many of those affected by the country’s devastating floods. The Information Minister, Sumsam Bokhari, said the authorities were doing their best to get through to all 20 million people affected.

There are some people where the relief has not reached yet. But that does not mean that it will not reach there. The thing is that with whatever sources we have-with the helicopter, with the trucks, because there have been roads which have been cut by the floods, which have been washed away like the bridges and elsewhere. So getting to the people is not an easy thing right now.

The Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said he would work more closely with the opposition to raise funds for relief effort.