ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit quake-hit Pakistan this week after his country took a leading role in rescue efforts, officials said on Tuesday.

“He is coming here to sympathise and visit earthquake-affected areas,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told AFP.

Ms Tasnim did not give the exact date for Erdogan’s visit, but diplomatic sources said the Turkish leader would arrive in Islamabad on Thursday.

He will hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday and also visit some quake-affected areas, they said.

Turkey was among the first countries to respond following the Oct 8 disaster.—AFP