Pakistan’s Envoy to US urges diaspora to contribute for Earthquake relief in Turkiye

Washington DC, 20 February 2023 (TDI): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US), Masood Khan has appealed Pakistani diaspora in the US to generously contribute towards relief efforts for the earthquake-hit people of Turkiye.

The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) organized a virtual telethon, in which Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan and Ambassador of Turkiye to the US, Hasan Murat Mercan were invited to attend the virtual meeting.

In his remarks during the Zoom telethon, Ambassador Masood Khan said the severity and lethality of the earthquake in Turkiye have been partially depicted by the international media as people live with the perilous consequences of multiple disasters within the mega-disaster since February 6.

Ambassador Masood Khan said, “Our hearts go out to the people and government of Türkiye who are hit by one of the deadliest earthquakes in the past one hundred years and one of the biggest natural disasters of our times.”

The event witnessed prompt response, especially from Pakistani American doctors and an amount of 365000 dollars were collected within an hour-long telethon.

Ambassador Masood Khan applauded Pakistani American Doctors (APPNA) and its leadership for organizing the telethon and raising humanitarian assistance for the earthquake response in Turkiye.

Pakistan’s response to Earthquake in Turkiye

During the meeting, Ambassador Masood also added that Pakistan responded immediately to the emergency in Türkiye by dispatching several aircraft sorties and truckloads of relief materials, Search and Rescue teams, and medical squads.

Further, he said, Pakistan fully supports the appeal of the UN Secretary-General for at least one billion dollars to give relief in the early recovery stage. We agree with him that there is no time to lose to provide funds for the victims.

It is also to be noted that Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif visited Türkiye recently to convey the solidarity of the people of Pakistan with Turkish brothers and sisters.

Also read: Pakistan dispatches 1st batch of rescue teams, relief goods to Türkiye

Ambassador of Turkiye to the US, Hasan Mecran briefed the participants about the magnitude of the calamity and thanked the Government and the people of Pakistan, especially the Pakistani community residing in the United States, for their prompt and generous support at this difficult hour.