ISLAMABAD, Feb 24, 2026: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Islamabad on Monday and launched a joint Ramadan relief initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable families across Pakistan.
The agreement was formalized during an official visit by TRCS President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, who led a high-level delegation to the PRCS National Headquarters. The visit reaffirmed long-standing humanitarian cooperation between the two national societies and focused on expanding joint programmes, strengthening institutional capacity, and improving emergency response coordination.
Under the newly signed MoU, PRCS and TRCS will collaborate on capacity building, information and experience sharing, training exchanges, joint humanitarian operations, and coordinated emergency response initiatives over the next five years.
Ramadan relief for conflict-affected communities
As part of the visit, the two organizations launched a Ramadan relief programme that will distribute 3,000 food packages to conflict-affected and vulnerable families, including those living in hard-to-reach areas such as Tirah and Kurram Valley.
In connection with World Orphans Day, Iftar meals will also be provided to 1,000 individuals, including children residing in orphanage centres in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The Ramadan food parcel distribution ceremony and an Iftar event were held at PRCS Headquarters. The ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Irfan Neziroğlu, along with representatives from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Yunus Emre Institute, Turkish Airlines, International Maarif School, Albayrak Pakistan, Anadolu Ajansı and ASELSAN.
PRCS Chairperson Farzhana Naek said the partnership between the two societies reflects decades of cooperation in times of crisis and aims to expand humanitarian outreach to vulnerable communities in Pakistan. TRCS President Prof. Dr. Yılmaz reaffirmed Türkiye’s continued support for humanitarian action and resilience-building initiatives in the country.
Ambassador Neziroğlu noted that cooperation between the two national societies translates longstanding bilateral ties into practical assistance for communities in need.
Ceremony and institutional visit
A ceremony titled “Celebrating Commitment to Service” was also held at the PRCS Fatimah Jinnah Auditorium, attended by representatives of partner organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), German Red Cross and Norwegian Red Cross, along with PRCS staff and volunteers.
The Turkish delegation also visited the Disaster Management and Logistics Centre built by TRCS and inaugurated in 2009 to support Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and response capacity. During the visit, Prof. Dr. Yılmaz planted a commemorative tree at the PRCS headquarters lawns alongside Chairperson Farzhana Naek and Ambassador Neziroğlu.
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