By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD: Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Syed Ebrahim Raisi called Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and expressed solidarity and conveyed their sympathies over devastating flood in the South Asian country.

In a statement, issued from the premier offices, said during the conversation with President Erdogan, Sharif briefed him on the latest situation on floods in Pakistan and the government’s efforts to provide relief on an emergency basis. 

The Prime Minister highlighted that Pakistan had been enduring unprecedented monsoon weather since mid-June 2022, with record rainfall. This had caused massive devastation in various parts of the country, resulting in loss of human lives, livelihoods and extensive damage to infrastructure.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked that despite that the rainfall had severely damaged infrastructure, the government was making all efforts to reach out to affected areas and assist people in their relocation and through delivery of aid.

The Prime Minister shared that Pakistan had prepared a “UN Flash Appeal” which would be launched on 30 August 2022 and expressed the hope that the international community would contribute towards meeting the funding requirements of the Flash Appeal. 

Sharif also thanked President Erdogan for humanitarian relief aid.

In the bilateral context, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed his commitment to boost relations in all areas. He also thanked President Erdogan for Turkiye’s unflinching support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan commiserated with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on loss of lives and extensive damage due to severe rainfall and floods. He added that Turkiye would always support Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Sharif also received telephone call from President of Iran Syed Ebrahim Raisi, today.

He thanked President Raisi for his sympathy on the flood situation, stressing that Pakistan had been enduring severe monsoon weather since mid-June 2022, with many areas receiving 4-5 times and even more. 

“This had caused widespread flooding and landslides, with extreme repercussions for human lives, livelihoods, livestock, property and infrastructure,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined that the humanitarian situation was being compounded by drastic impact to infrastructure including roads and bridges, which was impeding both the passage of people to safer locations and the delivery of aid.