ASHRAFF A SAMAD
COLOMBO : Pakistan collected around Rs 7 million at the launch of a special fund on Tuesday, Feb 13 to help the victims of the earthquake which has killed more than 38,000 people in Turkiye .
Major General (R) Umar Farooq Burki High Commissioner of Pakistan launched the fund in the presence of the Turkiye ambassador Demet Sekercioglu at the mission’s premises in Colombo on Tuesday.
The Pakistan envoy said that there was some 108 countries has sent their people to help Turkiye in its search operations. The envoy pointed out that the overseas Pakistanis in the United States have responded with $ 30 million to help the Turkiye people.
Thanking all those who have come forward to help her country, Turkiye ambassador said that her mission has opened a bank account to enable philanthropists to contribute their donations to help the country to come out of the natural disaster which has caused serious damage to men and properties.
A good number of Pakistanis made their donations in cash while a Sri Lankan tea producer donated $30,000 worth of tea to Turkiye .
Excellency of Pakistan Ambassador Umar Farook, we dearly appreciate your creative and revolutionary idea of raising the funds in very quick succession for the needy in Turkey. Greatly appreciate your efforts.