Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif handing over the relief goods to Turkish authorities sent by Pakistan for earthquake victims. Adiaman, Türkiye, on February 17, 2023.
ADIYAMAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said the earthquake in Turkiye was a wakeup call to the international community which should come up to the rescue of the quake-hit nation.
The prime minister, in an interview with the Turkish TRT television channel during his visit to the quake-ravaged areas, said the international community,including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, should support the Turkish people.
“This is my message to the world, including the OIC and the United Nations. This is not politics. Today is question of survival,” he remarked.
He said the earthquake had killed thousands of people, besides causing colossal losses of property.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while handing over the relief goods — mainly the winterised tents — to the Turkish officials, during his visit to Adiyaman city said that Pakistan would continue to provide maximum assistance to Turkey in its post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
A special aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) transported relief goods to Adiyaman, the most-affected area in southeast Turkey that suffered heavy damage from the powerful earthquake of February 6.
The premier interacted with the victims of the earthquake who lost their families and conveyed to them sympathies on behalf of the Pakistani nation. PM Shehbaz, on the occasion, assured the Turkish government and the victims that Pakistan would extend every possible cooperation to the brotherly country to cope with the devastation.
He termed Turkey as the friend and brotherly country of Pakistan and hoped that the country would overcome the challenging times with resilience. He also met the rescue teams from Pakistan that took part in the search operation.
Earlier on his arrival at Adiyaman airport, the prime minister was received by Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus, Minister for Communication Adil Ismailoglu, Governor of Adiyaman Mahmut Cuhadar, President of TurkPakistan Friendship Group in the Turkish parliament Ali Shaheen, and senior officials.
The prime minister arrived in Turkey’s capital Ankara on Thursday on a two-day visit in a special gesture of solidarity with the Turkish nation.
The federal cabinet has also decided to send 20,000 quilts to the earthquake victims and directed the Finance Department to release Rs50 million for the purpose. Pakistan mobilised relief assistance for both Turkey and Syria in the wake of the massive earthquake.
The country sent an 85-member urban search and rescue team, a 10-member search and rescue team, and a 10-member medical team to support the relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday left here for his homeland on completion of a two-day visit to Turkiye to convey condolences to the Turkish people after a strong earthquake caused massive loss of life and property.
Besides meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister also visited the earthquake-ravaged city of Adiyaman where he interacted with the quake victims as well as the rescue workers.
At the airport, the prime minister was seen off by Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus, Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu, Adiyaman Governor and others.
