ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Wednesday expressed grief over an Istanbul nightclub fire that killed 29 people this week, saying it stood with Turkiye in its difficult hour.
At least 29 people were killed when a fire broke out in Istanbul’s underground Masquerade nightclub during daytime renovation work, Turkish authorities said. Initial reports said it was an accident.
Early footage of the scene showed flames leaping up to the third floor of the 16-story building.
“Pakistan sends its deepest condolences and heartfelt grief over the loss of precious lives in a deadly fire in central Istanbul, Türkiye yesterday,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement.
“The people and government of Pakistan stand with their Turkish brothers and sisters in this hour of grief.”
Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy historic and cordial relations based on heritage, culture, defense and shared religion.
Pakistan, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government in Feb. 2023, sent planeloads of relief items for the people of Turkiye after a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed thousands in the country.
