PM Shehbaz assures full support to the earthquake victims of Turkiye


ANKARA, Feb 17 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has urged the international community including the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to come forward for the rescue and relief of earthquake victims of Turkiye.

PM Shehbaz Sharif was speaking during a visit to quake affected area of Adiyaman in Turkiye where he also interacted with the quake victims and expressed solidarity on the part of Pakistan.

The Prime Minister once again assured full support to the earthquake victims of Turkiye. He said we will stand by the people of Turkiye.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was earlier sending tents, blankets and food stuff to Turkiye. We have changed our strategy and now we will be focusing on sending winterized tents. He said that he will hold a meeting back home today (Saturday) with all potential tent manufacturers in order to make a concrete plan for speedy manufacturing of high quality and fire proof tents. He said these will then be shipped through air, land and sea routes.

The Prime Minister said he has entrusted the responsibility of this project to the Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He assured the tents will be dispatched to Turkiye without waste of time.

He was confident that Turkiye will come out of this crisis under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

PM Shehbaz Sharif also recalled how the Turkish leadership and people supported Pakistan in the wake of 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister also handed over to the Turk authorities the relief items sent by Pakistan.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the people and government of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the earthquake affected people of Turkiye in this hour of grief and will not rest until they are rehabilitated.

In an interview with “TRT” on Friday, he said this is one of the worst earthquake in living memory that has claimed lives of 30,000 Turkish people.

The Prime Minister called upon the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other world bodies to come forward and help Turkish people as it is a matter of survival. 

He said Turkish people have the valour and determination to overcome crises and they will come out of this soon. PM Shehbaz Sharif said Turkiye and Pakistan are brothers and hearts of the two peoples beat together.

He said he is in Turkiye to sympathize with the bereaved Turkish brethren on behalf of the people of Pakistan and tell the world that we must join hands to take Turkiye out of this disaster.