Strong economic ties developed with Turkey, says Shahbaz

[Salman]

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan and Turkey are bound together in strong ties of friendship and the Turk government and people extended generous assistance to flood affectees of Pakistan in 2010.



He said the Pak-Turkish friendship had now changed into strong economic ties and a number of Turk companies are investing billions of rupees in various sectors in Punjab. He said that Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mayor Istanbul Kider Topbas played a commendable role in strengthening the friendship.



He expressed these views while talking to a high level delegation of the Housing Ministry of Turkey which met him at Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday. The delegation included outgoing Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Babur Hizlan, Turk Minister Erdogan Bayraktar, Turk Senator Usman Askan Baik, Ahmet Sahan, Ahmet Al-bayrak of Al-bayrak Group, Noori Al-bayrak, Hassan Al-Bayrak, Binyamin Karaka and others. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Sher Ali Khan, Tanvir Aslam, Chairman LTC Kh. Ahmed Hasaan, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police and other senior officers were also present.



Talking to delegation, the Chief Minister said Turk Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his daughter also visited the flood affected areas. Similarly, he said a large delegation of Turk investors celebrated Eid with the calamity-hit people and set a noble example of love and brotherhood. He said that hospital, school, houses and other facilities are being provided to the affected districts of South Punjab with the cooperation of Turk government. He said that 380 houses have been completed which will soon be given to flood affectees while the Punjab government has set up model villages in the devastated areas.



The Chief Minister said the Punjab government is working on Ashiana Housing Project for the provision of shelter to low-income people. He said that in addition to Lahore, Ashiana housing schemes are also being completed in other big cities of the province. He said that besides Ashiana housing project, the government is also launching a new scheme for low-income segments of society. He said that Turkey has vast experience in housing sector and the Punjab government will benefit from it. He said that in order to root out crimes, police force is being imparted modern training as well as equipped with latest weapons. He said that with the cooperation of Turk National Police, Punjab Police are being modernised and officers of Turk police are imparting latest training to Punjab police. The Chief Minister lauded services of outgoing Turk Ambassador Mustafa Babur Hizlan for strengthening Pak-Turk friendship and said that he played a commendable role in cementing Pak-Turk relations and promoting interaction between the Punjab government and Turk companies.



Turk Minister Erdogan Bayratar while speaking on the occasion said that Pak-Turk friendship is unprecedented and the people of the two countries are very close to each other. He said that Pakistan and Turkey have same views and perception about the world’s affairs. He said the Punjab province has made commendable progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He also prayed for the success of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Outgoing Turk Ambassador Babur Hizlan said that Shahbaz Sharif has played a memorable role in strengthening Pak-Turk friendship. He said that Shahbaz Sharif fully supported him during his four years’ diplomatic tenure. The Chief Minister also hosted a luncheon in honour of the Turk delegation