ADIYAMAN (Turkey), Feb 17 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan would continue to provide maximum assistance to the Turkiye in its post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
The prime minister expressed these views as he handed over the relief goods mainly the winterized tents to the Turkish officials, during his visit to Adiayman city of Turkiye.
A special aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force transported relief goods to Adiyaman city, the most-affected area in southeast Turkiye that suffered heavy damage from the earthquake of February 6.
The prime minister interacted with the victims of the earthquake who lost their families and conveyed to them sympathies on behalf of the Pakistani nation.
Shehbaz Sharif on the occasion assured the Turkish government and the affected people that Pakistan would extend every possible cooperation to the brotherly country to cope with the devastation.
He termed Turkiye as the friend and brotherly country of Pakistan and hoped that the country would overcome the challenging times with resilience.
Appreciating the resilience of the Turkish nation, the prime minister said that with “traditional Turkish spirit of overcoming all obstacles and defeating all challenges, the Turkish nation will emerge out of this natural calamity stronger than ever.” Turkiye will always find Pakistan by its side, he assured.
Later, the prime minister visited various parts of Adiyaman city and interacted with Pakistani search and rescue teams who were carrying out search and rescue operations in the area.
He praised their dedication and professionalism and stressed that Pakistan would continue playing an active part in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The ceremony was followed by a detailed briefing by the Turkish Disaster Relief Authority, AFAD on the ongoing rescue and relief activities.
The prime minister also interacted with the earthquake survivors who thanked him for Pakistan’s steadfast and resolute support to Türkiye as well as for the effective role played by Pakistani rescue teams in saving lives.
Earlier on his arrival at Adiyaman airport, the prime minister was received by Turkish trade minister Mehmet Mus, Minister for Communication Adil Ismailoglu, Governor of Adiyaman Mahmut Cuhadar, President of Turk-Pakistan Friendship Group in the Turkish parliament Ali Shaheen, and senior officials.
Later in a tweet, he prayed to Allah to help the victims overcome the ordeal.
The prime minister arrived in Turkiye’s capital Ankara on Thursday on a two-day visit in 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 mobilized 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.