Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed gratitude to Türkiye for extending humanitarian relief assistance to Pakistan in form of immediate dispatch of tents, emergency food items, and medicines.
Talking to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over phone on Sunday, he sensitised President Erdogan of the havoc caused by the riverine floods.
The Prime Minister stated that as per initial estimates, the floods are likely to reduce Pakistan’s GDP by over two percentage points. He underlined that the ongoing floods have devastated millions of acres of standing crops, houses and critical infrastructure in the country.
Prime Minister Sharif conveyed that Pakistan was grappling with the immediate challenge of averting imminent food insecurity in the country as well as providing for rescue and rehabilitation of the victims of this climate-induced calamity.
The Prime Minister briefed President Erdogan about the ongoing relief activities by the Government, and expressed his intention to seek Türkiye’s assistance in overcoming the food shortage as well as in undertaking reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas.
It is pertinent to mention that Turkiye dispatched assistance via 12 aircrafts, four ‘Goodness Trains’ and two Turkish Red Crescent Trucks.
In the bilateral context, Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed commitment to boost relations in all areas.
