ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today established a relief fund to support the victims of a catastrophic earthquake in Turkey that has claimed over 3,000 lives.
“To help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey at this difficult hour, PM Shebaz Sharif has decided to establish PM Relief Fund,” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said.
She shared this information through her Twitter handle on Tuesday.
Earlier, Pakistan dispatched a plane load of relief goods and rescue team for Turkiye.
The federal cabinet has contributed their one month’s salary while the PM has appealed to the philanthropists to extend help for people displaced by earthquake.
on Monday, Turkiye and Syria have witnessed a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8. So far, about 5,000 people have lost their lives while thousands are still trapped under the debris.
Pak Rescue team
On Tuesday, Pakistan government dispatched two aircraft carrying a 51-member search and rescue team. The second plane carried relief goods for Turkiye.
A C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying rescue team and blankets has reached Istanbul, Pakistan Airforce said on Tuesday.
“The PAF aircraft is carrying relief goods from the people of Pakistan for the earthquake-affected brethren of Turkiye. The transport fleet of the PAF has always been at the forefront to respond to natural disasters and calamities both inland and abroad,” the Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
Pakistan had dispatched the necessary items, including a 30-bed makeshift hospital and medicines. A third plane will also leave for the quake-struck country on Tuesday evening.
Furthermore, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said: “As part of Pakistan Support for Turkiye, urban search and rescue (USAR) and Rescue 1122 team boarded through PIA flight from Lahore to Istanbul today.”
The NDMA also said that a second C-130 aircraft loaded with winterized tents and blankets will leave for Istanbul from Lahore today.
