PM Shahbaz lauds anonymous Pakistani’s $30m donation for quake victims at Turkish mission in US

Gulf Today Report

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he was deeply moved by the example of an anonymous Pakistani who walked into the Turkish embassy, in the US and donated $30 million to the families of those who lost their lives and are injured in the two earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

On his Twitter handle, he said that these were such glorious acts of philanthropy that enabled humanity to triumph over the seemingly insurmountable odds.

Shahbaz on Monday visited the Turkish embassy in Islamabad to express his condolences to the people of Turkey who have suffered loss of life and property due to the recent earthquake.

Many prominent people also visited the Turkish embassy in Islamabad to express their condolences and show solidarity with the Turkish people and government.

Pakistan has dispatched its army’s search and rescue team for assistance in the relief efforts.

Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign was launched in educational institutions across the country to collect funds for victims of the earthquakes. The drive was launched in schools, colleges, and universities in response to the prime minister’s call.

Millions of Pakistanis are still in mourning over the loss of precious lives in Turkey’s devastating earthquakes. Some other organisations in Pakistan have also launched fundraising campaigns to help Turkey during this difficult time.

Al Khidmat Foundation has already dispatched volunteers to assist with ongoing search and rescue operations.

The prime minister formed a special cabinet committee to oversee the collection of funds and relief goods for the quake victims in Turkey and Syria.

According to a media report, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) organised a ceremony to offer prayers for those who died in Turkey and Syria due to the recent devastating earthquake.

The event was attended by a large number of the business community including Presidents of various markets. On this occasion, donations were also collected for the relief of earthquake victims.

In a separate development, Pakistan Navy paratroopers unfurled a Turkish flag in the sky on Sunday at a multinational naval exercise in a show of solidarity with earthquake victims in Turkey.

Navies from 50 countries including Turkey, the US and China are participating in the five-day AMAN-2023 naval exercise led by Pakistan in the Arabian Sea.

The biennial event, which has taken place since 2007, began on Friday.

Regional countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia as well as African Union countries are taking part in the event with ships, aircraft, special operations forces, marine teams and observers.

Turkey this year is participating in the exercise at a limited level due to last Monday's massive earthquakes, which have killed at least 29,605 people.

The naval exercise, organised under the slogan "Together for Peace," is aimed at providing a forum for understanding maritime concepts and operational cultures, enhancing interoperability and identifying ways and means to combat common threats at sea, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement. The drill will continue until Tuesday.