Pakistan transports over 21-ton relief assistance for Turkiye, Syria

Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Wednesday transported over 21 tons of relief assistance to Turkiye and Syria which faced widespread destruction caused by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake.

“On behalf of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), two PIA planes carrying relief assistance have left for Istanbul and Damascus from Islamabad on Wednesday morning,” a PIA spokesman said in a brief statement here.

He said PIA flights PK-705 & PK-9135 carrying 7.4 tons and 14 tons of cargo (quake-relief assistance) departed from Islamabad to Istanbul and Damascus at 8:45am and 10:30am respectively.

The spokesman elaborated that the 14 tons of assistance, which had been dispatched to Damascus, also contained winter tents and blankets aimed at protecting the quake-affected people from the cold weather harshness.

On Tuesday, the national flag carrier had airlifted a 51-member team for Turkiye to participate in rescue and relief activities in the areas affected by the massive quake.

The PIA administration had already announced the delivery of relief goods free of charge on humanitarian grounds for Turkiye and Syria. The relief assistance can be delivered to PIA’s cargo terminals through NDMA.

He said: “The national flag carrier had always been at the forefront during emergencies for relief assistance and vowed that PIA would extend all possible services to bring back the quake-affected Pakistanis to the homeland if needed”.