ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national living in the United States has anonymously donated $30 million for the survivors of this week’s massive earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, Turkish journalists said on Saturday, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praising the “glorious act.” 

Tens of thousands of rescue workers are still scouring through flattened neighborhoods in Turkiye and Syria as the death toll from Monday’s 7.8-maginitude earthquake has risen above 28,000. The freezing weather has deepened the misery of millions now in desperate need of aid. 

In Turkiye’s gourmet capital Gaziantep city, restaurants are working hard among tens of thousands of volunteers to help and feed families, while aid has been slow to arrive in Syria, where years of conflict have ravaged the health care system and parts of the country remain under the control of rebels. 

Amid this, an anonymous Pakistani walked into the Turkish embassy in Washington DC and donated $30 million for the earthquake-affected people in the two countries. 

“A Pakistani businessman alone contributed 30 million dollars to the Turkiye aid campaign launched in America,” Mustafa Tanyeri, editor-in-chief of The Election Post, said on Twitter, citing Turkiye’s ambassador to Washington Murat Mercan. 

Yousuf Erim, who works with Turkish broadcaster TRT World, confirmed it in a video shared on Twitter. 

“Individuals, a Pakistani businessman walked into the Turkish embassy in the United States and anonymously donated $30 million by himself,” Erim said. “We don’t know who he is. His identity has not been revealed.” 

PM Sharif said he was “deeply moved” by the example and showered his praise on the anonymous Pakistani national. 

“Deeply moved by the example of an anonymous Pakistani who walked into Turkish embassy in the US & donated $30 million for earthquake victims in Türkiye & Syria,” Sharif said on Twitter. 

“These are such glorious acts of philanthropy that enable humanity to triumph over the seemingly insurmountable odds.”