APPNA chapters across the United States make generous contributions towards relief efforts, APPNA raises $ 365,000
Pakistani American community steps forward to help Türkiye
Pakistani American community in Southern California raises $100,000.
We are bonded by inseparable bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood: Turkish Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan
Ambassador Masood Khan lauds APPNA & Pak diaspora for their humanitarian services
Symbolizing ‘inseparable’ bonds of brotherhood between the people of Pakistan and Türkiye, Association of Pakistani Descent Physicians of North America (APPNA), is proactively involved in mobilizing resources to provide relief to the calamity-stricken brothers and sisters in Türkiye.
During a Zoom telethon meeting, the organization raised an amount of $365,000 within an hour. The appeal to help earthquake victims witnessed prompt and generous response from the members as well as various chapters of APPNA. Georgia chapter of the organization donated $63,500. Similarly Oklahoma chapter and Khyber Alumni contributed $25,000 and $32,000, respectively, for the cause.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan and Turkish Ambassador in Washington Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan were invited as key-note speakers during the telethon meeting.
Turkish Ambassador in his remarks recalled sentiments, generosity and the support of Pakistani nation during the struggle for independence of Türkiye and said that the two nations have a strong ‘inseparable’ bond of brotherhood and sisterhood and have been sharing each other’s’ sorrows and agonies without any hesitation at every difficult hour.
Noting prompt response from Pakistan as well as Pakistani community residing in the United States, Ambassador Mercan said that he was indebted to the Pakistani community for their humanitarian gesture and organizing the fundraising event.
Turkish Ambassador said that the earthquake that struck Türkiye was one of the biggest natural disaster in our times. “The area affected by the earthquake is larger than many European parties including Greece and Austria”, he said.
Ambassador Mercan said that he was deeply moved by the statement of Prime Minister of Pakistan when he said that Pakistan will never leave Türkiye alone as it has never left Pakistan alone during any difficult time.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Masood Khan lauded APPNA for always being proactive on humanitarian front and rising to the occasion to help our brothers and sisters in Türkiye.
“Our hearts go out to the people and government of Türkiye who were hit by one of the deadliest earthquakes in the past one hundred years and one of the biggest natural disasters of our times,” he said.
Masood Khan lauded the leadership of APPNA, President Dr. Arshad Rehan and Chairperson APPNA Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee Dr. Rashid Hanif, for taking a lead and symbolizing strong bonds of brotherhood between the people of the two country.
“We respect APPNA’s humanitarian impulse and its enormous empathy with the people of Türkiye,” he observed.
Separately, in his tweet, Ambassador Masood Khan also thanked his Turkish counterpart.
President APPNA Dr. Arshad Rehan in his remarks said that they consider Turkey and Pakistan as two nations but one people. He said that the entire Pakistani community was shocked to hear the devastation caused by massive earthquake. “We are here today to express solidarity with our Turkish brethren and tell them that we stand shoulder to shoulder with them,” he said
“APPNA’s contribution towards providing relief during a tragedy of immense proportion may be miniscule, but it would be symbolic of our sentiments for our Turkish brethren,” he said.
President APPNA, on the occasion, also offered sending medical mission to Türkiye to assist in providing medical assistance to the earthquake victims.
Pakistani American community in Southern California did a fundraiser in support of Türkiye earthquake affectees and raised 100,000 dollars. Similarly Pakistani Americans in other parts of the United States are also making contributions for the earthquake victims.
Ambassador Masood Khan has thanked community leaders and Pak diaspora in United States for their generous support towards relief efforts.
Washington D.C , February 20, 2023
