Pakistan sets up relief fund for Turkiye-Syria earthquake as death toll crosses 11,000

Volunteers stand on rubble of a destroyed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, a day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on February 7, 2023. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 08 February 2023

Pakistan sets up relief fund for Turkiye-Syria earthquake as death toll crosses 11,000

  • Pakistan’s finance minister says all cabinet members will donate a month’s salary to relief fund
  • Says Turkiye always stood by Pakistan’s side, its Pakistan’s turn to do the same for it as well

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government announced on Wednesday it would set up a relief fund for victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, urging people to “generously donate” as the combined death toll in the two countries crossed 11,000.

Rescue activities continue in Syria and Turkiye after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake jolted the two countries earlier this week. According to World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, time is running out for the thousands injured and those still feared trapped.

Reports emerging from the two countries say thousands have taken refuge from rains, snow, and aftershocks in mosques, schools, and bus shelters after losing their apartments and houses.




People rest in the historical Grand Mosque, where they found refuge, two days after a strong earthquake struck the region, in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir on February 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy: AFP)

Some estimates suggest that nearly 23 million people have been affected by the quake which will require significant relief and reconstruction activities in the coming days.

To help Turkiye speed up its reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday announced the premier’s move to establish a relief fund for the earthquake victims. He added that members of Pakistan’s federal cabinet have also decided to donate their one-month salaries to the fund.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Turkiye Earthquake Victims,” Dar said during a presser on Wednesday. “Upon the proposal and suggestion of the premier, all members of the federal cabinet will donate one month’s salary to the relief fund,” he added.

He requested the nation to donate generously for the people of Turkiye and Syria suffering from the earthquake. Dar added that whenever Pakistan found itself in crisis, Turkiye always stood by the South Asian nation’s side and came to its help.

“When the devastating floods hit Pakistan last year, that incurred a loss of $30 billion according to estimates, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife visited Pakistan and donated wholeheartedly,” he said.

He said it was now time for Pakistanis to show the same generosity toward the people of Turkiye.

“The devastation in Turkiye and Syria is such that irrespective of how much we donate, it will still not be enough,” he said. “I, therefore, request you all to participate in this noble cause for the sake of [humanity] and to please God.”

The finance czar added that parliamentarians are also considering giving up a portion of their salaries and donating it to the fund. He added that tax relief would be provided to citizens if they decide to send the donations.

Earlier today, PM Sharif, who had announced that he would travel to Turkiye to express solidarity with its people and government, said that his trip had to be postponed due to theongoing relief activities in the country.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has already sent two planeloads of relief goods to Turkiye and Syria.




C-130 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force carrying 18634 pounds of humanitarian assistance relief goods from people of Pakistan reaches Turkiye on February 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Airforce)

The goods were sent to the Syrian capital of Damascus by a specially chartered plane from Islamabad airport.

The NDMA said more relief materials would also be sent “for Syrian brothers and sisters affected by the earthquake.”

The Pakistan Air Force also said in a statement on Wednesday it had dispatched tents, blankets, and other essential items on two C-130s to Turkiye to help people.


Ex-PM says will approach foreign capitals, rights bodies over crackdown against supporters

Updated 12 sec ago

Ex-PM says will approach foreign capitals, rights bodies over crackdown against supporters

  • In latest address, Khan says he fears for his life, accuses government of plotting to kill him
  • PM Sharif accuses Khan of running ‘disgusting’ smear campaign against the army chief

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan said on Monday his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party would present evidence to international human rights organizations and foreign capitals of alleged rights violations committed by the Pakistani government against his supporters.

Khan’s supporters have had clashes with police a number of times in the last week, including on Saturday when he visited a judicial complex in Islamabad for a court appearance. Before that, supporters pelted police and other law enforcers with stones and bricks when they arrived outside Khan’s Lahore residence with court orders to arrest him in a case involving the sale of state gifts, popularly called the Toshakhana case.

Addressing supporters on Monday via video link, Khan said the government had wanted to isolate him from his supporters at the judicial complex and laid a "trap" to kill him, while police had fired tear gas shells to provoke his followers into a confrontation. He urged Pakistan's top court to take notice of the alleged human rights violations in Pakistan.

"We will approach international human rights organizations today," Khan said. "We will [also] approach foreign capitals through the PTI's chapters in various parts of the world.”

The ex-premier's statement came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused Khan of orchestrating a "foreign-funded" campaign against Pakistan's army chief, Syed Asim Munir.
Sharif was responding to criticism leveled at Munir by PTI protesters who had gathered outside the White House in Washington D.C. on Sunday, many of them directly chanting slogans against the Pakistan army and its chief.

Khan accused the Sharif-led government of deliberately trying to pit the PTI against the country's powerful military.

"Let me emphasize, this army is my army and it is also my country," Khan said. "I will live and die in Pakistan."

Khan, widely believed to have been propelled to power in the 2018 general elections with the support of the army, has since said to have fallen out with the military. Kahn denies the polls were rigged in his favour, while the military says it no longer interferes in politics.


Pakistani envoy reminds Muslim community at UN of Ramadan’s message of compassion, tolerance

Updated 55 min 47 sec ago

Pakistani envoy reminds Muslim community at UN of Ramadan’s message of compassion, tolerance

  • Condoles with people who lost their loved ones in climate disasters in Muslim nations
  • Pays homage to Kashmiris and Palestinians “living through the yoke of occupation”

ISLAMABAD: In a message on the eve of Ramadan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, reminded the Muslim community at the UN about the holy month’s teachings of compassion, patience and tolerance toward others and steadfastness in the face of hardships and calamities.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

The first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on Thursday, March 23, with the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, which sights the new moon and announces the start of Ramadan, scheduled to meet this Wednesday.

“I hope this month enshrines us with the need to always do good to others and ourselves,” Munir was quoted by state-run APP as saying.

“Ramadan is a month of exchanging gestures of compassion and empathy. It is a time for reflection, self-purification and learning. It is also a time to look after those in need and to uplift one another.”

“During this time, I would like to express my condolences to my Muslim brothers and sisters who lost their loved ones, and their homes in climate calamities, in particular during the devastating floods that affected Pakistan, Türkiye, and other parts of the world. The earthquake which affected southern Türkiye and northern Syria also incurred extensive loss of life and damage to properties,” the envoy added.

“I pray that May Almighty save us from the menace of such mega-disasters in the future.”

The ambassador also paid homage to Kashmiris and Palestinians “living through the yoke of the occupation.”

“I would also like to extend my gratitude to our peacekeepers in UN missions abroad who are working diligently in difficult circumstances and I express my tribute to the fallen peacekeepers in the line of duty. May Allah grant their soul peace and give fortitude to their families and loved ones.”


'Separate elections unconstitutional': Govt trying for same-day vote, says Sana

Updated 20 March 2023

'Separate elections unconstitutional': Govt trying for same-day vote, says Sana

March 20: Express Tribune reported interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has claimed that the upcoming polls in two provinces – Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – would be unconstitutional as they would lead to the next general elections not being held under caretaker setups in these provinces. Read More I


Sharif blames ex-PM Khan for ‘intolerable’ smear campaign against Pakistan’s army chief

Updated 20 March 2023

Sharif blames ex-PM Khan for ‘intolerable’ smear campaign against Pakistan’s army chief

  • PM Sharif urges “patriotic overseas Pakistanis” to raise their voices against “foreign-funded” campaign
  • PTI supporters, in demonstration outside White House on Monday, urged military to accept civilian supremacy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday criticized his predecessor Imran Khan for orchestrating a “foreign-funded” campaign against Pakistan’s army chief, Syed Asim Munir, saying that it is being launched against him by using overseas Pakistanis.

The prime minister’s statement comes a day after hundreds of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters gathered outside the White House in Washington D.C. to protest against what they said were “atrocities” being committed against Khan. In the protest, a PTI leader demanded that Pakistan’s powerful military establishment must realize the “mistake” it is making while another supporter said the military should accept civilian supremacy in the country.

The protest took place a couple of days after clashes between Khan supporters and Punjab police personnel who attempted to arrest the former prime minister outside his Zaman Khan residence in Lahore on court orders.

Munir was appointed army chief by PM Sharif in November last year. The army chief’s appointment became a subject of controversy after Khan — who challenges the legitimacy of the Sharif government — insisted Pakistan’s ruling coalition government should not appoint the new army chief. Rather, he insisted elections be held and a new prime minister should appoint the army chief.

“Campaign against the army chief is intolerable and a continuation of the conspiracy against institutions,” Sharif said in a statement. “Patriotic overseas Pakistan should raise their voices against this foreign-funded campaign,” he said, adding that overseas Pakistanis are being used to spread “toxic politics.”

Sharif appealed to overseas Pakistanis not to fall prey to the alleged conspiracy, adding that Khan was violating the constitution by dragging the heads of institutions in his “dirty politics.”

“The interior minister should deal with iron hands against those who are running dirty campaigns against institutions within the country,” Sharif said. “Strict legal action should be taken against those who instigate chaos, riots, and rebellion in Pakistan.”

The prime minister said a campaign against an army chief, who had been appointed on merit for the first time in Pakistan’s history, could only be the agenda of enemies of the state. “The nation stands with its institutions and is united against miscreants,” he added.

In separate tweets later, PM Sharif accused Khan of orchestrating a “disgusting smear campaign” against Pakistan’s army chief.

“PTI’s disgusting smear campaign against Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir at the behest of Imran Niazi is deserving of the strongest condemnation,” Sharif wrote on Twitter.

In another Twitter post, the premier said Khan is “stooping to unprecedented lows” for power and is undermining Pakistan’s armed forces.

The PTI chairman, who has severely criticized Bajwa and accused him of having a hand in his removal from office in April 2022, has largely refrained from criticizing Munir directly. However, in an interview earlier this month, Khan said he expected Munir’s appointment would “change” his and his party’s fortunes but added that “hardships have increased.”

Pakistan’s military has historically held massive sway in the governance and foreign policy matters of the nuclear-armed South Asian nation. Over the past couple of years, the army, which has ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its 75-year history, has come under intense criticism, arguably unprecedented for the all-powerful institution, particularly for its role in politics.

In his farewell speech, Bajwa said the military had decided in February 2021 to quit any role in Pakistani politics. In a veiled warning to Khan, he also said the military’s patience has limits.


Almost half of Pakistan does not know how to ride a bicycle — Gallup survey

Updated 6 min 9 sec ago

Almost half of Pakistan does not know how to ride a bicycle — Gallup survey

  • Gallup Pakistan surveys 764 men and women across all four provinces
  • Answers were collected via telephonic surveys, says Gallup Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The findings of a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan earlier this month said 45 percent of Pakistanis don’t know how to ride a bicycle.

The government in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi organized the “longest cycling race” on March 5. Almost 95 participants took part in the 35-km long race which started from the Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi and ended at the Governor House. Though Pakistan has not won any significant world titles in cycling, the country hosts several cycling competitions in major cities across the year.

According to Gallup Pakistan, the survey was conducted on March 16 from a “nationally representative sample of adult men and women” across the country’s four provinces. Respondents were asked the question, “Please tell if you know how to ride a bicycle?”

Fifty-five percent of the respondents said yes while almost half, 45 percent, said no.

The survey was carried out among a sample of 764 men and women in urban and rural areas in the four provinces. The methodology used for data collection was telephonic surveys (CATI), Gallup Pakistan said.