Nawaz Sharif calls on visiting Turkish Prime Minister

Lahore: Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has described Turkey’s far reaching economic reforms and its bold foreign policy initiatives, as a model worthy of emulation by other developing countries.

The PML President made this remark during his courtesy call on the visiting Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyup Erdogan who is currently in Islamabad for participation in the D-8 Summit. The former Prime Minister recalled the historic linkages between the people of two countries which could rightly be described as close, brotherly and fraternal, while the range and depth of their cooperation and understanding made these ties truly strategic.

The Turkish Prime Minister thanked the PML (N) President for his warmth and friendship and stressed that he and the people of Turkey viewed Mr. Nawaz Sharif as a strong and sincere friend of their country. He said that he shared Mr. Sharif’s views on the importance of enhancing political understanding and economic cooperation between the two countries. This would be of immense benefit to them, while contributing to peace and stability in the region.

Nawaz Sharif lauded the role being played by Turkish companies in Pakistan and urged greater participation by them in the country’s critical sectors. He said that this would not only strengthen bilateral ties, but also promote regional cooperation in the context of organizations such as the ECO and D-8, of which both Pakistan and Turkey are member states.

During the course of their warm and friendly meeting, the two leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, including the current crisis in the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories. In this context, both leaders condemned Israel’s attacks on civilian residences in Gaza that have resulted in the death of over a hundred innocent men, women and children. They urged the international community, in particular, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to ensure implementation of the Council’s many resolutions that have called upon Israel to vacate the occupied Arab territories.

Nawaz Sharif was assisted by Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, by leader of opposition in the National Assembly Mr. Nisar Ali Khan and by the leader of opposition in the Senate Mr. Ishaq Dar, Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Tariq Fatimi, while the Turkish Prime Minister was assisted by his Foreign Minister and other senior aides.