ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, February 24, 2026 (WNP): The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) on Tuesday signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand joint humanitarian operations, as both organizations launched a Ramadan relief campaign targeting conflict-affected and vulnerable families.

The agreement was signed during the visit of TRCS President Fatma Meric Yilmaz to the PRCS National Headquarters in Islamabad. She was accompanied by TRCS Director General for International Affairs and Migration, Alper Kucuk.

Under the new MoU, the two national societies will collaborate over the next five years on capacity building, knowledge exchange, joint humanitarian operations, training programmes and coordinated emergency response initiatives.

Marking the start of their renewed cooperation, PRCS and TRCS launched a Ramadan relief drive that will distribute 3,000 food parcels and 1,000 iftar meals to families affected by conflict and poverty in Tirah and Kurram Valley, as well as to orphanages in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The distribution ceremony at PRCS Headquarters was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Irfan Neziroglu, along with representatives of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Yunus Emre Institute, Turkish Airlines, the International Maarif School, Albayrak Group, Anadolu Ajansi and ASELSAN.

The initiative also coincided with World Orphans Day, with assistance specifically directed towards orphaned children and families in hardship-hit areas.

During meetings with PRCS Chairperson Mrs Farzhana Naek, the two sides discussed expanding joint humanitarian programmes and improving outreach to remote and vulnerable communities.

Mrs Naek described the renewed partnership as a reflection of the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye, emphasizing that both societies have stood together during major crises.

She reaffirmed PRCS’s commitment to strengthening cooperation to enhance life-saving humanitarian services nationwide.

Prof. Dr. Yilmaz expressed continued solidarity with the people of Pakistan and pledged closer coordination with PRCS in humanitarian response and resilience-building efforts.

Ambassador Neziroglu stated that the cooperation between the two Red Crescent societies reflects the depth of trust between Pakistan and Türkiye and translates bilateral goodwill into practical humanitarian assistance.

Earlier in the day, the TRCS delegation toured the PRCS Library, signed the visitors’ book, and visited the Regional Blood Donor Centre and a mobile blood collection unit. The delegation commended PRCS’s voluntary blood donation initiatives and efforts to ensure blood safety across the country.

A ceremony titled “Celebrating Commitment to Service” was held at the PRCS Fatimah Jinnah Auditorium, attended by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the German Red Cross and the Norwegian Red Cross, alongside PRCS staff and volunteers.

The delegation also visited the Disaster Management and Logistics Centre built by the Turkish Red Crescent and inaugurated in 2009, a facility that continues to support Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and response capacity.

The visit concluded with a tree plantation ceremony at the PRCS lawns, where Prof. Dr. Yilmaz, Mrs Naek and Ambassador Neziroglu planted a commemorative tree symbolizing enduring cooperation between the two humanitarian organizations.