Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has conveyed his profound condolences and sincere sympathies to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and brotherly people of Türkiye on the loss of precious lives and damage to infrastructure as a massive earthquake hit the country killing over 300 people early Monday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Taking to his Twitter handle, Prime Minister Shehbaz wrote: “Deeply saddened by the news of a massive earthquake that struck southeastern region of Türkiye. I send my profound condolences & most sincere sympathies to my brother President Erdogan & brotherly people of Türkiye on the loss of precious lives & damage to infrastructure.”

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1622460341992165376

https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1622484365501689856

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also extended condolences over loss of lives from earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.

https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/1622453744695758849

In a statement, the MOFA said that the government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened to learn that a severe earthquake hit parts of Southern Türkiye earlier today, resulting in loss of precious lives and extensive damage to property.

The people of Pakistan stand in complete solidarity with our Turkish brethren in this hour of grief. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of those injured, the statement read.

In further stated that Pakistan stands ready to extend all possible support in the relief effort. We are confident that the resilient Turkish nation will overcome this natural calamity with characteristic grit and determination, it concluded.

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on Monday, killing nearly 200, levelling buildings while people were still in their sleep, and sending tremors that were felt as far away as the island of Cyprus.

Local officials in Turkey put the initial death toll at 76, although it threatened to climb substantially higher because it caught most people while they were still at home asleep.

More than 110 people have been killed in government-held parts of Syria following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that had its epicentre in southeastern Turkey near the border between the two countries, the Syrian health ministry said. "516 injuries and 111 deaths recorded in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus," the ministry said in a statement.