Balochistan had troubles enough before yesterday’s earthquake. It is not simply that Afghanistan’s war has spilled into this largest but least populous of Pakistan’s four provinces with Taleban forces using it as a cross-border staging area. Almost since Pakistan’s creation, government forces have also been fighting local tribes who want to break away from Islamabad’s control. At stake are the province’s natural resources that are believed to include significant oil and gas reserves.

The death toll from the latest quake which measured 6.2 on the Richter scale with its epicenter some 50 miles northeast of the provincial capital Quetta was initially put at only a few dozen. But as the day wore on, the figure began to climb in the same way as it did after the disastrous Kashmir 7.6 magnitude quake in 2005. It must be hoped, however, that the final death toll will be very far short indeed of the 73,000 who perished in that horror. Since the area is so thinly populated, it is reasonable to expect the total of dead and injured will be markedly lower, though one local newspaper was reporting that at least 15,000 people were already known to be homeless.

There was a silver lining to the Kashmir disaster and that was the response of ordinary Pakistanis away from the destruction. While the authorities struggled to direct police and army into the stricken region and assemble sufficient food, shelter and medical resources to cope with survivors, thousands of people simply filled up their cars with supplies and drove to the area. Those who could head off to remote areas that the official response had not yet got around to dealing with. It was chaotic and sure some of the aid went to the wrong places. But this generous and immediate response by the man in the street was a heartening demonstration of both national unity and common humanity. Help was also sent across the Line of Control from Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Thus at a time of catastrophe, everyone demonstrated that political differences and deep enmities could be put aside in the cause of bringing succor to the injured and homeless. India has once again offered assistance. If the extent of the death and destruction proves to be greater than it seemed last night, it can be expected that once again ordinary people will add their own efforts to those of the authorities.

The good news seems to be that government has responded quickly with aid and medical teams who have been helicoptered into the area. Lessons have clearly been learned from the muddle that characterized the initial reaction to the Kashmir disaster three years ago. But there is another lesson that Islamabad may not fully have taken on board. In the wake of the 2005 quake, support for victims to rebuild their shattered homes and businesses was extremely patchy. Some were still living in tents two years later. This time the government can earn Balochi goodwill and even trust if it ensures the availability of the funds and materials for reconstruction to begin immediately.