Türkiye’s state-run aid agency, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), concluded a weeklong search and rescue training program for Pakistani scouts in Karachi, aimed at enhancing disaster management capabilities. This initiative marks the third such training in recent months.

The training was organized under TIKA’s Emergency and Disaster Response Training Program (ADAMEP) in partnership with the IHH Humanitarian Aid Foundation Disaster Management and the Sindh Scouts Association (SBSA). At the closing ceremony, Türkiye’s Consul General in Karachi, Cemal Sangu, praised the enduring solidarity between Türkiye and Pakistan during recent disasters like Pakistan’s 2022 floods and Türkiye’s 2023 earthquake. “It is gratifying to see institutions from both countries working together to prepare for potential future disasters,” Sangu said.

TIKA Karachi Coordinator Halil Ibrahim Basaran highlighted the importance of sustainability in such projects, stating, “Each phase of the training has significantly improved the skills of Pakistani search and rescue teams, ensuring they are better equipped for disaster response.”

IHH disaster management training coordinator, Cihad Kaptan, emphasized the need for joint disaster preparedness, noting the shared vulnerability of both Türkiye and Pakistan to natural disasters.

Sindh Scouts Association Director Siddique Memon expressed gratitude to Türkiye for its contribution to disaster response initiatives. A volunteer from Pakistan’s Alkhidmat Foundation, Sarfaraz Sheikh, lauded the training for providing invaluable knowledge and improving their operational effectiveness in emergencies.