Natural disasters as earthquake in Türkiye & Syria are beyond the capacity of any single govt to handle: PM Shehbaz

LAHORE, Feb 16 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has left for Turkiye on a two-day visit.

Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmet Pacaci and Consul General Amir Ozbe saw off the Prime Minister at Lahore Airport.

Meanwhile PM Shehbaz Sharif in a statement issued on twitter on Thursday said that he was leaving for Türkiye with a message of unwavering solidarity and support for our Turkish brothers and sisters from the people and government of Pakistan. True to the spirit of one nation living in two states, we consider their loss as ours, he said.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said that natural disasters as the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria are beyond the capacity of any single government to handle. He said that no country, howsoever resourceful, can deal with devastation of this magnitude. It is time the world came forward and extended support to the suffering humanity, he said.

Meanwhile according to the statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday, in a special gesture of solidarity and support with the people of Türkiye in the wake of the massive earthquake on 6 February 2023, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a visit to Türkiye on 16-17 February 2023.

During his stay in Ankara, the Prime Minister will meet the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to personally convey heartfelt condolences on behalf of the entire Pakistani nation over the loss of precious lives and the widespread damage caused by the earthquake. The Prime Minister will reiterate Pakistan’s firm commitment to stand by the Turkish people during these difficult times and to continue extending all possible support to the ongoing relief effort. 

The Prime Minister will also visit earthquake-affected areas in southern Türkiye, and interact with the Pakistani search and rescue teams deployed in the area as well as survivors of the earthquake.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in southern Türkiye, the Prime Minister had spoken with President Erdogan on 6 February and assured him of all possible assistance for the rescue and relief effort. All available resources have been fully mobilized to help our Turkish brothers and sisters. The Prime Minister is personally overseeing the relief effort.

Pakistan and Türkiye enjoy deep fraternal ties. Our two countries have resolutely stood by each other during every trial and tribulation.