‘Pak, Turkey should produce joint defence projects’

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday stressed the need to initiate joint defence production projects between Pakistan and Turkey, according to a message received from Ankara. In a meeting with a Pakistani defence delegation, led by Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, who called on him, Gul said the existing strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey provides an opportunity for joint ventures. The Turkish PM showed keen interest in Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder aircraft, which he was informed, "is a multi-role combat aircraft equipped with state-of-art modern technology and manufactured according to present day defence requirements". Referring to the unprecedented economic growth that Turkey has achieved in the last couple of years, the Turkish PM said " We wish a similar economic development for Pakistan, and are prepared to help our brother country in every possible manner." "I am personally motivating Turkish investors to invest in Pakistan's energy sector," Gul said. Pakistan's coal reserves are the third largest in the world and production of electricity from coal would be a viable project for overseas investors, he added. Gul said he also desired to expedite work on the US $20 billion railway project that will connect Pakistan with the European market, through Turkey. Mukhtar thanked the Turkish PM for personally monitoring the projects of Turkish investors in Pakistan and appreciated the level of hospitality extended to his delegation. Pakistan supports Turkey's stance for immediate compensation for the victims of Mavi Marmara, who were brutally killed by the Israeli Army on May 31 and demands that Israel should apologise for the incident, Mukhtar said. In a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul, he made these views as a show of support to the brotherly nation. The ministers discussed joint defence production projects.