Pakistan declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the earthquake, the worst natural disaster in the nation's history.

"A three-day nationwide mourning has been declared from today (Sunday)," the interior minister, Aftab Sherpao, told a news conference in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

Pakistanis abroad have held prayer services and begun collections to assist with the recovery effort.

Hundreds of Pakistani Muslims living in Australia attended a special prayer service in the Canberra Islamic Centre where Khawar Saleem Khan, from the Pakistan Australia Friendship Association, called on the community to donate to Pakistan's national earthquake relief fund.

Dozens of world leaders were quick to express condolences. Chinese president, Hu Jintao sent his condolences to both India and Pakistan and US president, George W. Bush expressed his nation's "deepest condolences" and offered "to help in any way [they] can".

Thailand and Indonesia, both devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26 last year, also offered sympathies as well as funds and medical supplies.