Pakistan to send rescue team, aid to Turkey

Pakistan will send a team of doctors, surgeons and rescue specialists to Turkey to help earthquake victims, officials said Monday.One of the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir said that the team would be dispatched to Turkey after receiving green signal from the Turkish government. Turkish media reports that death toll from the Sunday’s earthquake now now reached 272 and 1,140 were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake. Nearly 1,000 buildings have been destroyed in the disaster zone, with the town of Ercis the worst hit. The death toll is expected to rise as outlying areas are reached, Turkish officials have said. Zafar said that besides other necessary assistance, NDMA has also planned to establish a Field Hospital in quake hit areas of Turkey for providing crucial medical help to the victims. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in their condolence messages to the Turkish leaders had offered assistance. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s biggest Punjab province has decided to send relief items for earthquake affected people in Turkey and a delegation led by Senior Advisor Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa will leave for Turkey along with relief items within next 48 hours. Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Turkey were linked with deep cultural and historic relations and Turkey has always helped us in every hour of trial. He said, 'We are also standing with our Turkish brethren in distress.' He directed Chief Secretary to immediately give final shape to the arrangements for sending the relief items which included tents, medicines and other essential items. The relief items will be sent to Turkey by a special plane.