Pakistan extends support to Turkiye, Syria after deadly quake

President Alvi, PM Shehbaz condole deaths in deadly earthquake; NDMA mobilises all available resources

ISLAMABAD:

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended condolences to Turkiye and Syria over the loss of lives from a massive earthquake that killed over 2,200 people.

Meanwhile, the Senate also unanimously passed a resolution to express solidarity with the devastating earthquake-hit people of Turkiye, Syria and Lebanon.

In their separate messages, both the president and the prime minister expressed grief and conveyed sympathies to the governments and people of the quake-hit countries.

The president said, “In this hour of grief, I and the Pakistani nation stand in solidarity with the people of Turkiye and Syria.” He prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace and for the grant of patience to the bereaved families.

The prime minister said he was deeply saddened by the news of a massive earthquake that struck the southeastern region of Turkiye and Syria. He extended his profound condolences and sincere sympathies to the leadership and people of the two countries on the human and material loss.

Teams comprising doctors, paramedics & rescue workers are being sent to Türkiye today to help with the ongoing rescue efforts. A plane carrying medicines and other essential relief goods is also being dispatched soon. https://t.co/KfD795gyqS

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 6, 2023

The prime minister also telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and conveyed condolences over the casualties and destruction caused by the earthquake.

Expressing deep grief over the loss of life and property, the prime minister sympathised with the grieved families.

Also read: Death toll in Turkiye, Syria earthquake soars past 2,200

“The people of Pakistan are with their brotherly country of Turkiye and its people. Pakistan will extend its maximum support to the Turkish government and the people to help them cope with the quake-caused destruction,” the prime minister said.

He said the adverse impacts of climate change were deteriorating. “The natural calamities and climate change know no boundaries, region, or ethnicity,” he remarked.

The prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty for peace of the departed souls, patience to the bereaved families, and early recovery of the injured. President Erdogan thanked the prime minister for the condolatory call and for offering support.

Erdogan said he valued the sentiments of the prime minister as well as the Pakistani people.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office reiterated that Pakistan stood in complete solidarity with the brotherly people of Turkiye in the wake of unprecedented natural calamity.

“Beyond the immediate relief effort, we will continue to work with Turkiye in the post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction phases,” the spokesperson said in a press release.

On the instructions of the prime minister, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was mobilising all available resources including winterised tents, blankets and other critical life-saving supplies, it was added.

Urban Search and Rescue Teams trained to operate in disaster hit areas were being dispatched with their equipment and medicines.

“Our Mission in Ankara remains in constant touch with the relevant Turkish authorities to identify any additional requirement for the earthquake affected areas,” the spokesperson said.

The government and people of Pakistan had received the news of a massive earthquake in Southern Turkiye earlier in the day, with deep sorrow and anguish, the spokesperson said.