Speaker Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ismail Khuraman meets Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Speaker Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ismail Khuraman met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here today. Matters of mutual interest, promotion of Pak-Turk relations and increase in cooperation in different sectors were discussed on the occasion.

It was agreed in the meeting to take further steps for promotion of economic and trade relations between the two countries.

The Chief Minister warmly welcomed Speaker Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ismail Khuraman and the members of his delegation in Lahore. He said that there are historic and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkey and the people of the two countries consider the other country as their home. He said that relations between Pakistan and Turkey will further strengthen with the visit of Speaker Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

The Chief Minister said that there is a strong bond of friendship and brotherhood between Pakistan and Turkey and both the countries have helped each other in the time of need whether it was flood, earthquake or any other natural calamity.

Shahbaz Sharif said that mutual relations between governments and people of Turkey and Pakistan are expanding with the passage of time. He said that during the tenure of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the ties of friendship between the two countries have turned into useful economic cooperation and these bilateral relations will further strengthen in the time to come. He said that Turk President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Davutoglu have fully supported Pakistan and the people of the country can never forget the love of their Turk brethren.

He said that friendship between Pakistan and Turkey is based on brotherhood and harmony and it is a part of syllabus in the educational institutions of Turkey as the Muslims of the subcontinent had taken an active part in the war of independence of Turkey and the Turk people refer to it with deep love. Shehbaz Sharif further said that practical display of brotherhood and sincerity between Pakistan and Turkey is often witnessed. He further said that both Pakistan and Turkey are facing the menace of terrorism and terrorists are the common enemy of the world and collective efforts are needed to deal with them.

The Chief Minister thanked Turk National Police and Turk leadership for its cooperation in the development and training of Dolphin Force in Punjab. Speaker Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ismail Kharaman strongly condemned Gulshan Iqbal Park tragedy and expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives. He also paid tributes to the supreme sacrifices of Pakistan against terrorism and appreciated the courage and bravery of the Pakistani nation. He said that people of Pakistan and Turkey are bound together in strong ties.

He said that all out measures be taken for promotion of cooperation with Punjab government. He said that Shahbaz Sharif has done a lot of work for the prosperity of the people of Punjab and his reforms for betterment of people are commendable.

Turk Ambassador Baber Gurgin, senior Turk authorities, Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Kh. Ahmad Hasaan and head of Turkish Cell in Punjab Investment Board Shaukat Haroon were also present on the occasion.