KARACHI: Pakistan will dispatch 70 tons of relief goods to Myanmar in the wake of a deadly earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 people, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said on Monday.
The statement came after Sharif spoke with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and extended his condolences over the loss of precious lives and property due to the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday.
The Pakistan prime minister assured his country was ready to provide any assistance to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the earthquake, according to Sharif’s office.
“National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan would be dispatching around 70 tons of relief goods to Myanmar in two sorties that would arrive within the next 48 hours to help the earthquake affected people,” he was quoted as saying.
The development came as Myanmar declared a week of national mourning over the devastating earthquake, with hopes fading of finding more survivors in the rubble of ruined buildings.
The tempo and urgency of rescue efforts have wound down in Mandalay, one of the worst-affected cities and the country’s second-largest, with more than 1.7 million inhabitants. However, with communications down in much of Myanmar, the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge and the death toll is expected to rise significantly.
Sharif expressed his confidence in the resilience of the people of Myanmar and hoped that they would soon overcome this natural calamity, according to his office.
The Myanmar junta chief thanked the prime minister and the people of Pakistan for “standing with the people of Myanmar in this hour of need.”
At least 19 deaths have also been confirmed hundreds of kilometers away in Thailand’s capital Bangkok, where the force of Friday’s quake caused a 30-story, under-construction tower block to collapse.
Pakistan to dispatch 70 tons of aid to Myanmar as quake death toll passes 2,000
https://arab.news/m4zf6
Pakistan to dispatch 70 tons of aid to Myanmar as quake death toll passes 2,000
- With communications down, the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge and the death toll is expected to rise
- At least 19 deaths have also been confirmed in Bangkok, where the quake caused a 30-story tower block to collapse
Pakistan defeat Japan to qualify for Hockey World Cup after eight years
- The national side was trailing 3-1 in the third quarter and smashed three goals in last nine minutes of the final quarter
- PM Shehbaz Sharif tells Pakistan players ‘you can win the World Cup by playing with same hard work, determination’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan defeated Japan 4-3 in the semifinal of the FIH Hockey World Cup qualifier in Egypt on Friday, qualifying for this year’s World Cup.
Pakistan’s victory at the Suez Canal Authority Hockey Stadium has earned them a place in the World Cup after eight years. Belgium and the Netherlands will co-host the tournament in Aug.
The Pakistan hockey team has not qualified for the last three Olympics and were ranked 12th when they last played a World Cup in 2018, despite hockey being the national game of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday congratulated the Pakistani side for securing a place in the upcoming World Cup, promising his government support to the players.
“You can win the World Cup by playing with the same hard work and determination,” he said in a statement. “The government will provide you with all the facilities. Your full attention should be focused on outstanding performance in the game.”
The national side, led by Ammad Butt, was trailing 3-1 in the third quarter of Friday’s match against Japan, when it smashed three goals in the last nine minutes of the final quarter to clinch victory.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari called the win a “message of encouragement for hockey revival in Pakistan.”
“Sports play an important role in promoting national unity, discipline and a healthy society,” he said, stressing the need to promote hockey and football across the country.
Pakistan’s hockey journey is marked by past glory and ongoing efforts to revive the sport. Once a dominant force with three Olympic golds in 1960, 1968 and 1984 along with four World Cups in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994, the country was known for its legendary players like Shahbaz Ahmed and Samiullah Khan.
However, poor management, lack of infrastructure and the rise of cricket from the late 1990s led to a decline. The failure to adapt to modern demands, including fitness and artificial turfs also further deepened the crisis.
