ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday assured Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Paçaci that in the testing times, the government and the people of Pakistan stood in strong solidarity with the people of Turkiye.
He made the remarks during his visit to the Turkish Embassy here to express condolences over the loss of life and property in the devastating earthquake in Turkiye. The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for EconomicAffairs Sardar Ayyaz Sadiq, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarrar, and Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Attaullah Tarrar and Tariq Fatemi. He conveyed his condolences to the Turkish ambassador and prayed for the victims of the earthquake. He reiterated that Pakistan would continue its rescue and relief efforts for Turkish brothers and sisters until the last affected person was rehabilitated. The prime minister also highlighted the relief efforts of Pakistan for the earthquake victims of Turkiye. He said Pakistan sent winter tents, blankets, warm clothes and other essential items for the people of Turkey. The PM said brothers in Turkey were sent assistance by air, sea and road, while the government was also considering to send aid through trains. He said assistance was being provided on the basis of daily reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey. The government of Turkey fully helped Pakistan during the earthquake of 2005, floods in 2010 and in the recent floods, he noted. He asked the Turkish ambassador to inform him about the needs of the people of Turkey so that Pakistan could arrange assistance accordingly.