New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday (February 16, 2023) that he is leaving for Turkey, where a powerful earthquake last week killed more than 35,000 people. In a tweet, Sharif said he was leaving for Turkey “with a message of unwavering solidarity.”
Sharif tweeted, “I leave for Turkey with a message of unwavering solidarity and support from the people and government of Pakistan to our Turkish brothers and sisters. In the spirit of a nation living in two states, we Take the loss as your own.” ,
I leave for Turkey with a message of unwavering solidarity and support from the people and government of Pakistan to our Turkish brothers and sisters. In the spirit of a nation living in two states, we take their loss as our own.
— Shahbaz Sharif (@CMShahbaz) February 16, 2023
This comes a week after he was reportedly asked to postpone his visit to the country due to Turkish leadership engagements related to the ongoing rehabilitation work.
Sharif was scheduled to leave for Turkey on February 8. However, the visit was delayed as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials were busy with rescue and relief operations.
Turkey and neighboring Syria were rocked by a devastating earthquake on February 6 that killed more than 41,000 people and left millions in need of humanitarian aid, with many survivors left homeless in near-freezing temperatures.