Thousands of survivors of the South Asian earthquake will be helped to rebuild their lives by a new City Hall trust.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Valerie Binney, will launch the Bradford Kashmir Earth-quake Trust at a civic dinner tonight.

The Trust aims to raise money to plough into a specific area of the region, supporting schools, a health centre and housing.

President of the Pakistani Society of West Yorkshire Rashid Awan has been appointed chairman of the Trust and will join the Lord Mayor and Bradford's Pakistani consul, Ayaz Hussain, in addressing 100 guests at the dinner.

"I am very optimistic that a lot of people from Bradford and the surrounding area will support this," said Mr Awan.

"I think things have been moving in a satisfactory way in the region but it has been a slow process. I heard people in the camps are now going back to their homes and in some areas are receiving money to help build their own homes.

"But it will take some time for the wounds of the children to heal. It's not easy and I think the rebuilding process will take two or three years."

More than 73,000 people were killed, 69,000 injured and as many as 2.5 million people were left homeless by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan-administered Kashmir on October 8.

According to studies by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, about $3.5 billion will be needed to rebuild areas damaged by the quake.

Bradford Council's head of Democratic Services, Salman Mather, said the Council made a conscious decision to set up the Trust months after the earthquake struck.

"It was in recognition that the earthquake-hit region needs ongoing support," he said.

"People were very generous in the aftermath but it's clear from the information coming from Pakistan and Kashmir that it will take years for the area to fully recover.

"We want to establish a long-term relationship with an area that was hit to assist in the long-term recovery of that area. The purpose of the launch is to encourage people within the community to support the idea of the Trust and to kick off fundraising activities."

The council is working closely with the Pakistani and Asad Kashmiri governments to identify a suitable area.

"The specific projects will depend on the needs of that area" said Mr Mather. "But it could include schools, rural health centres and perhaps housing."

Councillor Binney said: "I am very proud this Trust has been established in the name of the Lord Mayor. It is an indication of the council's commitment to this. We get a lot of donations and we need to make sure the money goes where it is needed to complement the work that continues to be done by the aid agencies and Pakistani Government.

Food for the dinner has been donated by the Shipley-based Aagrah restaurant chain which raised more than £30,000 for survivors within days of the earthquake striking.

Anyone who can help the Trust can call the Lord Mayor's office on (01274) 432111.

e-mail: fiona.evans@bradford.newsquest.co.uk