Pakistanis living in the United States contribute $30 million to earthquake victims in Turkey, Syria

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Today, Saturday, the Pakistani Prime Minister said that a Pakistani living in the United States donated $30 million to the families of those who lost their lives and were injured in the earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and Syria.

“Deeply moved by the example of an unknown Pakistani man who walked into the Turkish Embassy in the United States and donated $30 million to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria,” Shahbaz Sharif said on Twitter.

“These are glorious acts of philanthropy that enable humanity to triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds,” he added.

On Thursday, Sharif formed a special ministerial committee to oversee the collection of funds and relief materials for the victims of Monday’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

He announced the formation of the committee at a meeting in Islamabad to review and discuss ways to speed up the ongoing fund-raising campaign and collection of relief goods.

The committee meets on a daily basis to ensure the timely delivery of funds and relief materials to the earthquake devastated areas.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Saturday on Twitter that two more relief shipments had been dispatched to Turkey from Lahore, capital of the country’s central-eastern Punjab province, by PIA and Turkish Airlines.

In a separate context, the Pakistan Air Force said in a statement that its planes carrying 16.5 tons of humanitarian aid donated by people to the earthquake victims had arrived in Adana, southern Turkey.

The statement said the PAF is also coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara to repatriate the stranded Pakistanis.

Fundraising campaign in educational institutions

A fundraiser was also launched on Saturday at educational institutions across the country to raise funds for earthquake victims. The campaign was launched in schools, colleges and universities in response to the Prime Minister’s appeal.

Millions of Pakistanis are still mourning the loss of tens of thousands of lives in the devastating earthquakes in Turkey.

Ahmed Shoaib, a resident of Islamabad, told Anadolu Agency, “I could not describe my pain in words because everyone here is in a state of shock and feels pain towards their Turkish brothers and sisters.”

“Our prayers and thoughts are with our brothers and sisters,” he added.

Some organizations in Pakistan have also launched fundraising campaigns to help Turkey during this difficult time.

The Pakistan Services Corporation, one of the country’s largest charitable organizations, has already sent volunteers to help with the ongoing search and rescue operations.

“My father donated a good amount yesterday through the Services Foundation, and many of my friends are doing the same,” Naila Hayat, a doctor from Peshawar, told Anadolu Agency by phone.

Many dignitaries visited the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad to express their condolences and solidarity with the Turkish people and government.

Asif Luqman Qazi, director of foreign affairs for the Jamaat-e-Din political party, Asif Luqman Qazi, said, “The people of Pakistan are shocked at the massive scale of destruction caused by the massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. We extend our deepest condolences to the people and government of Turkey.” – Islami Pakistan, while delivering a telegram of condolence from the party’s leader, Siraj-ul-Haq, to ​​the Turkish ambassador, Muhammad Bakashi.

“We will stand by our brothers and sisters in these difficult times, God willing,” he added.

“My dear Turkish brothers, sisters, mothers and elders, we share your pain in this natural disaster. I, Asad Qureshi, on behalf of the Pakistani nation, assure you that we are with you in every situation. Our hearts beat in sync. With you,” Anadolu Agency received a video message from a young Pakistani artist named Asad Qureshi. .

The country’s disaster management agency said today, Saturday, that at least 21,800 people have been killed and 80,000 others injured as a result of two powerful earthquakes that struck southern Turkey on Monday.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people in 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that hit Turkey within less than 10 hours.

More than 166,000 search and rescue personnel are currently working in the field, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said nearly 92,700 people have been evacuated from quake-hit areas so far.

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