NDMA sends 16.5 tonnes relief shipment to Turkey

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has sent a fresh aid shipment weighing 16.5 tonnes to Turkey in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that left thousands of people dead and injured in Turkey and Syria.

The relief consignment was dispatched from the Islamabad International Airport on Friday on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing-777.

Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir, Minister Safron Talha Mahmood and State Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Senator Faisal Kareem Kundi were present at the departure ceremony of the flight.

The consignment includes large winterized tents for families as required by earthquake victims in Turkiye.

Federal ministers expressed their sincere condolences for the loss of precious lives due to the huge earthquake across Turkiye on 6 February. They noted that the Turkiye government and people have always helped Pakistan in times of difficulty, especially during the recent floods, and now is the time for Pakistan to reciprocate.

Three flights carrying relief goods have been dispatched to quake-hit Turkiye on the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. PM Shehbaz himself sent off the first flight from the Lahore international airport via Turkish Military Aircraft (A 400). Another flight through a special PAF IL-78 will be seen off by Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik from Lahore Airport.

The NDMA has arranged and dispatched tons of relief goods along with Army and Rescue 1122 teams to Turkiye so far. More relief assistance has been planned through airlift, road and marine routes for people in Syria and Türkiye in coming days, the NDMA chief said.