PM Shehbaz visits Turkish embassy as quake death toll rises

Premier offers condolences to Turkish ambassador, prays for victims of the recent earthquake in brotherly country

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday visited the Turkish embassy in Islamabad to express his condolences to the people of Turkey who have suffered loss of life and property due to the recent earthquake.

The earthquake, which struck last week in Turkey and Syria, has caused a death toll of over 35,000 people, as rescue teams have started to wind down their search for survivors and the aid effort shifts towards the hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by the disaster.

Despite one week passing since the 7.8-magnitude tremor, Turkish media reported that a handful of people are still being pulled from the rubble, and the survivors are facing increasingly desperate conditions due to the lack of hygiene, toilets, and water.

Read more: Pakistan Army saves over six people trapped under debris in Turkiye

The confirmed death toll rose to 35,224 today as officials and medics said 31,643 people had died in Turkey and at least 3,581 in Syria after the February 6 earthquake, the fifth deadliest since the start of the 21st century.

Pakistan has also despatched its army’s search and rescue team for assistance in the relief efforts.

In 120 hours of hectic efforts, Pakistan Army – besides rescuing more than six people – recovered the bodies of 80 people and handed them over to their heirs.

Two other international search and rescue groups from Pakistan were among those that brought relief to the residents of Adiyaman, one of the 10 provinces jolted by Monday's powerful tremors.

The international media recognised Pakistan Army’s contribution in the relief operation in Turkiye, saying that it won the hearts of the Turkish people.

Also read: 'Don't lose hope': Pakistani rescuers bring relief to Türkiye quake survivors

According to sources, Pakistan Army’s team was continuously engaged in rescue operation at 10 places in Turkiye.

During the visit to the Turkish embassy, Prime Minister Shehbaz was accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayyaz Sadiq, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarrar, SAPM Attaullah Tarrar and SAPM Tariq Fatemi.

The prime minister conveyed his condolences to Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Paçaci and prayed for the victims of the deadly earthquake in Turkey. PM Sharif also assured the Turkish ambassador that the government and people of Pakistan stand in strong solidarity with the people of Turkey and that they will continue their rescue and relief efforts until the last affected person is rehabilitated.

The prime minister also highlighted the relief efforts of Pakistan for the earthquake victims of Turkey. He recorded his remarks in a condolence book and thanked the ambassador and the people of Turkey for their outpouring of sympathy and support.

The ambassador of Turkey thanked the prime minister and the people of Pakistan and expressed that they are touched by the outpouring of sympathy and support from the entire Pakistani nation.

(With additional input from AFP)