ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called his Syrian counterpart on Saturday to extend sympathies in the wake of a massive quake that claimed over 3,500 lives in the Arab state as rescue workers pulled more people out of the rubble amid fading hope to find more survivors.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted Syria and Türkiye on Monday is said to be the world’s seventh deadliest natural disaster this century in which the collective death toll has already exceeded 25,000.
Sharif told Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous the Pakistani administration would offer all possible support with the relief efforts.
“Offering condolences to the Syrian Prime Minister on his personal loss of family members in the horrific natural calamity, Prime Minister Sharif expressed concern with regard to the reports emanating from the region of severe aftershocks,” said an official statement issued in Islamabad after the phone call.
“He shared that Pakistan had already dispatched the first batch of humanitarian assistance which was being followed-up with more relief goods sent via air and land routes,” the statement added while quoting the Pakistani premier. “He added that a medical team from Pakistan would also support the humanitarian efforts in Syria.”
Pakistan suffered from a massive natural calamity last year when record monsoon rains triggered flash floods and destroyed houses, farmlands and public infrastructure in different parts of the country. Given the extent of devastation, the country urged the international community for significant financial assistance amid an ongoing economic crisis.
However, the government has still managed to dispatch rescue teams to the quake-affected region and sent relief items including tents and winterized blankets to help people.
Prime Minister Arnous also thanked the government and people of Pakistan for demonstrating solidarity with Syrian citizens at such a difficult hour, the statement added.
