SG: I am Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations. I came here with my wife, and my team, in solidarity to tell you how much we feel your pain and to offer my deepest condolences and sympathy for the people you've lost and those who are wounded. The international community is standing in solidarity with you.

As difficult as the situation seems, I have no doubt that you will overcome, you will rebuild and you will build even better. Let me say that we are all working in partnership with you to rebuild and help you recover your lives but it is you, and the women of this community, who are the heroes and heroines. You are going to do the rebuilding yourselves, we can only help. That help will come from the government, from UN, from the private sector, and others but you are the ones who will do the rebuilding.

Let me say a special word to the ladies who are here with us. You often bear the heavy load, keeping the household going looking after the children and holding the family together.

It is often you who are often left alone in the houses when the men move on to get employment and bring salaries and support home. So you are the every day heroines and I want to applaud your contribution and I know, working with your men, you are going to make this community what it ought to be.

Finally let me thank President Musharraf, the government and the people of Pakistan for the wonderful cooperation they have given to the international community, to the UN, to the other countries that are here to help and also the NGOs. It has been a wonderful cooperative experience, and we are grateful for that. I also want to thank the average man and woman of Pakistan who responded so generously to your difficulties, to them also I say thank you.