ISLAMABAD: Eleven days after a massive earthquake hit Turkiye, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the country on Thursday to express solidarity with the Turkish people.

The 7.8-magnitude quake, which flattened cities across southeastern Turkiye and parts of Syria, has so far killed over 41,000 people.

The premier met Presi­dent Recep Tayyip Erdo­gan and expressed his heartfelt condolences over the loss of precious human lives.

The prime minister was earlier scheduled to visit on Feb 8, but the trip was postponed due to the “ongoing relief efforts,” according to Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

After the meeting, Mr Sharif said he expressed “profound condolences” on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan.

“I assured him [Mr Erdo­gan] of our steadfast support to [Turkiye]. I am confident that under [the] President’s leadership, Türkiye will emerge from this catastrophe stronger,” he tweeted.

Upon his arrival in Ankara, the prime minister was received by senior Turkish officials and Pakis­tan’s ambassador, according to the PM Office.

The prime minister was accompanied by Ms Aur­angzeb, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, and National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider.

During his two-day stay, the prime minister will also visit the affected areas in southern Turkiye and interact with Pakistani search and rescue teams.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2023