Howard was to visit Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, and other parts of northern Pakistan badly affected by the 7.6-magnitude quake on October 8, officials said.

The Australian prime minister, after talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday, indicated that he would announce further aid for the quake victims.

"Australia has already contributed significantly to the relief and rescue efforts. Tomorrow when I visit those areas I will have something further to say on that issue," Howard told reporters after meeting Aziz.

Howard, who also met President Pervez Musharraf, later said "Australians have been moved at the plight of quake-affected people" and assured his country's support to Pakistan in dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Pakistan has received 10.4 million dollars from Australia since the calamity, and diplomatic sources in Islamabad said Howard was likely to enhance the contribution by around 50 million dollars.

"When Prime Minister Howard visits Muzaffarabad along with President Musharraf he is going to enhance the Australian assistance by around 50 million dollars," a senior diplomatic source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Australia has dispatched a team of 120 military personnel to the devastated Kashmir region for about three months as part of its contribution to the international aid effort.

Howard flew into Islamabad late Monday on a three-day visit shortly after an international conference of donors here at the weekend pledged more than 5.8 billion dollars for reconstruction.

The earthquake killed more than 73,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in India and left three million more homeless.

Hectic relief and rehabilitation activities continue in the quake stricken areas before the onset of the harsh Himalayan winter. Army helicopters fly scores of sorties daily to deliver tents, blankets and ration to survivors.

Australia, like Pakistan, is a key ally in the US-led "war on terror".

Canberra and Islamabad on Tuesday signed several agreements including a memorandum of understanding on combating transnational crime.

Australia also offered 500 scholarships for Pakistani students and agreed to enhance cooperation in energy, mining and agriculture, officials said.

Howard's first trip to Pakistan follows Musharraf's official trip to Australia in June. Howard is the first Australian prime minister to visit Pakistan since 1989.

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