Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Turkey on Thursday to express his support and solidarity with the Turkish people in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 people.
The Turkish ambassador, Mehmet Pacaci, bade the prime minister farewell as he departed Lahore Airport, and he was greeted by Turkish officials at Ankara Esenboa Airport.
Before departing, PM Shehbaz tweeted, “I am leaving for Turkey with a message of unwavering solidarity and support from the people and government of Pakistan for our Turkish brothers and sisters.”
“In the spirit of a nation that resides in two states, we consider their loss to be our own,” he said.
During his two-day stay in Ankara, the prime minister will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to personally convey the nation’s deepest condolences for the loss of life and widespread destruction.
In another tweet, the prime minister, while expressing his sorrow over the massive losses, noted that regardless of the country’s resources, it cannot combat such devastation on its own.
He declared: “Natural disasters, such as the earthquakes in [Turkey and] Syria, are beyond the control of any one government. This magnitude of destruction is insurmountable for any nation, regardless of its resources. It is time for humanity’s suffering to receive support from the international community.”
The prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to stand by the Turkish people during these trying times and to continue providing all possible assistance to the ongoing relief effort.
The prime minister will also visit earthquake-affected areas in southern Turkey, where he will interact with Pakistani search and rescue teams and earthquake survivors.
As a result of the devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey on February 6, the prime minister spoke with President Erdogan and assured him of all possible assistance for the rescue and relief effort.
All available resources have been mobilised to aid the Turkish people, and the prime minister oversees the relief effort personally.
Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy deep fraternal ties. The two nations have steadfastly supported one another through every difficulty.
It should be noted that on February 7, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced that Shehbaz Shehbaz will travel to Turkey to offer his condolences to President Erdogan in the wake of the country’s devastating earthquake.
The minister wrote on Twitter: “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Ankara tomorrow morning. He will express his condolences to the Turkish president and the Turkish people for the destruction and loss of life caused by the earthquake.”
Nevertheless, the trip was cancelled at the time.
