ISLAMABAD: Prime Mini­s­ter Shehbaz Sharif visited earthquake-hit areas and victims on his second day of visit to Turkiye and vowed to continue providing maximum assistance to Ankara in its rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

The prime minister expres­sed these views as he handed over relief goods, mainly winterised and fireproof tents, to Turkish officials during his visit to the south-eastern Turkish city of Adiyaman.

Later, Mr Sharif left for Pakistan after completing the two-day visit aimed at conveying condolences to the Turkish people.

A special aircraft of Pakistan Air Force transported relief goods to Adiyaman, which suffered heavy damage from the powerful, 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria on Feb 6.

On Thursday, Mr Sharif met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye and expressed his heartfelt condolences over the loss of human lives. Mr Erdogan expressed gratitude to the premier for helping the Turkish people in their time of need.

Leaves Turkiye after two-day solidarity visit

On Friday, the prime minister interacted with the earthquake victims, many of whom have lost their families, and expressed sympathies on behalf of the Pakistani nation.

He assured the Turkish government and the affected people that Pakistan would extend every possible cooperation to Turkiye to cope with the devastation.

Describing Turkiye as a friendly and brotherly country, he hoped the nation would overcome the challenging times with resilience. He also met the rescue teams from Pakistan participating in the search operation.

Earlier, on his arrival at the Adiyaman airport, the prime minister was received by

Tur­kish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus, Minister for Commun­i­cation Adil Ismailoglu, Adi­yaman Governor Mahmut Cuh­adar, President of Turk-Pakistan Friendship Gro­up in the Turkish parliament Ali Sha­heen, and senior officials.

The prime minister arrived in Ankara on Thursday on a two-day visit as a special gesture of solidarity with the Turkish nation.

The federal cabinet on Thursday also decided to send 20,000 quilts to the earthquake victims and directed the Finance Depart­ment to release Rs.50 million for the purpose.

Pakistan mobilised relief assistance for both Turkiye 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.

A ‘wake-up call’

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Turkish television channel TRT during his visit to the quake-ravaged areas on Friday, Prime Minister Sharif said the earthquake was a wake-up call to the international community, which should come up to Turkiye’s rescue, the APP reported.

“This is my message to the world, including the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation] and the United Nations. This is not politics. Today is the question of survival,” he said.

Noting that the earthquake had killed thousands of people, besides causing colossal damage to property, the prime minister said Turkiye would undoubtedly make all possible efforts to rehabilitate the quake-hit people.

The premier said he was there to convey condolences over the destruction caused by the earthquake as Pakistan and Turkiye were “two souls and one heart”.

Earlier, in an interaction with the media, the prime minister said that considering the needs of the quake-ravaged Turkish people, Pakistan would now focus on providing winterised and fireproof tents to Turkiye.

He said Pakistan had been supplying blankets, foodstuff and other relief goods but, after his discussion with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Islamabad changed its strategy to focus on the supply of winter tents.

He said that after his return to Pakistan, he would meet with local tent manufacturers and devise a plan to ensure the speedy manufacturing of tents to provide temporary shelter to Turkish people in affected areas.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2023