Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to establish a relief fund to support the victims of a deadly earthquake in Turkiye that has claimed more than 3,000 lives.
“To help the earthquake victims in Turkiye at this difficult hour, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to establish PM Relief Fund,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said Tuesday after an aircraft load of relief goods and rescue team from Pakistan reached Turkiye.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the federal cabinet has pledged to contribute one month’s salary to the fund. The prime minister has also appealed to philanthropists to extend help to the quake victims.
Turkiye and Syria have witnessed a deadly earthquake of a magnitude of 7.8, killing around 5,000 people and injuring innumerable people.
Pakistan sends emergency relief goods to quake hit Turkiye
Earlier, Pakistan sent two planes carrying a 51-member rescue and search team and relief goods to Turkiye to provide assistance in rescue operations.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF), in a statement, said that a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying blankets and a rescue team from PAF Base Nur Khan has landed in Istanbul, Turkiye.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that as part of Pakistan Support for Turkiye, the urban search and rescue (USAR) and Rescue 1122 team boarded the PIA flight from Lahore to Istanbul today.”
It said a second C-130 aircraft carrying blankets and tents will take off from Lahore airport today.
PM Shehbaz to Visit Turkiye
PM Shehbaz will visit Turkiye on February 8 to condole with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the deadly earthquake that hit the country.
Taking to Twitter, Marriyum Aurangzeb wrote: “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will leave for Turkiye tomorrow morning. The prime minister will express his condolences to the Turkish leader and the people of Turkiye over the devastation on caused by the earthquake and the loss of life.”
