PM offers all-out support for quake-hit Turkey

Shehbaz urges people to donate to Prime Minister’s relief fund

LAHORE:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan will extend every possible support to Turkey in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake that has killed more than 20,000 people and injured thousands more.

The premier further urged the people to donate to the Prime Minister’s relief fund.

Talking to the media at the Lahore airport, PM Shehbaz handed over 100 tonnes of relief goods, including food, medicines and winterised tents for the people of the quake-hit country.

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Shehbaz said the people of Pakistan stand in “solidarity with their brethren in distress and will do everything to help them rebuild their lives”.

He also recalled how Turkey had established an air bridge with Pakistan after the horrific 2005 earthquake that killed around 80,000 people in Azad Kashmir.

Earlier, the prime minister was briefed about the collection and dispatch of relief goods from Pakistan to Turkey and Syria.

He was informed that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was coordinating and rushing relief goods from various cities of Pakistan to the quake-affected.

“We will leave no stone unturned to help the Turkish brethren … we have never seen such catastrophe in a century and can feel the pain and loss of the people of Turkey,” he said and likened the people of Turkey and Pakistan as “two hearts and one soul.”

Read Rescues provide glimmer of hope among Turkey quake ruins as toll tops 20,000

The PM said that his government had decided to turn the ongoing rescue and relief efforts for Turkey into a nationwide support campaign.

In this regard, he said, the support of the business community, religious scholars and educational institutions will also be sought.

Shehbaz also added that an air bridge has already been set up to transport relief goods to quake-hit countries and the trucks of the National Logistic Cell (NLC) will carry 100 tonnes of relief goods to Turkey via Iran.

Earlier in the day, a PIA 777 aircraft carried relief goods to Turkey from Lahore, while another 30 tonnes will be airlifted from Islamabad today.

Moreover, another batch of 40 tonnes of relief goods will be sent from Lahore on Saturday (tomorrow).

The PM made an impassioned appeal to the people, the business community and the philanthropic organisations to gear up their efforts and send winterised tents, blankets, food and clothing for those who lost everything in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

He also lauded caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi for his quick response in the collection and dispatch of the relief goods.

The Turkish Council General appreciated the expression of solidarity of the people and the government of Pakistan and said the two countries were tied together with strong bonds.