ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced setting up a Rs10 billion relief fund for earthquake-hit Turkey, urging people to donate generously for the victims of brotherly country. He made this announcement while talking to media at Lahore Airport on the eve of dispatching relief items to Turkey on Friday.
The people of Pakistan cannot forget how Türkiye came forward to help us at the time of earthquake of 2005 & super floods of 2010. The Islamic concept of brotherhood binds us in a unique relationship where we share the pain of each other. https://t.co/PP9eTnbhlK
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 10, 2023
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Speaking at the ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) would purchase relief items — such as tents, clothes, blankets and dry food — from the fund and dispatch them to Turkey.
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Expressing concern about the rising death toll and destruction of infrastructure in Turkey and Syria after earthquake, he said that an Air bridge has been established for the robust delivery of relief items to Turkey.
He said that after the earthquake, an immediate connection was made to Turkish President and assured him for all out support to the people of Turkey in this critical situation.
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He stated that the 220 million people of Pakistan were standing with the people of Turkey in these testing times.
“The night the earthquake was reported, I called President Erdogan and told him that the people of Pakistan, as brothers and Muslims, will help the quake victims as much as possible.
“The relation of Turkiye and Pakistan goes back to centuries,” PM Shehbaz remarked, promising that the country will never abandon Turkey.
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He recalled that during the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, Turkey had stepped up and supported the country until the “last man was moved home”. “Today, we have to move forward with the same passion.”
