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Pakistan to double trade with Turkey: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan would make all-out efforts to double its trade with Turkey.
“We encourage investment by Turkish businessmen in Pakistan. We have stable democracy, vibrant judiciary and proactive media to protect foreign investment,” the prime minister said this in a meeting with Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglo.
During the meeting, both the sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional matters and the prime minister reaffirmed the importance Pakistan attaches to brotherly relations with Turkey.
The prime minister remarked that Pakistan and Turkey had a shared vision in regional and global politics. The Turkish FM said that Turkey would provide all-out support in international relations to Pakistan.
He said Pakistan, due to its economy and stable democracy, was on the right track and Turkey would be happy to have a positive role in Pakistan becoming an economic power. He apprised the prime minister that Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan would visit Pakistan along with a large group of businessmen to establish close economic ties. “Turkey is at your disposal in becoming partners in this road to economic prosperity,” the foreign minister added.
He observed that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had made Punjab a success story during the last five years and Turkey would extend this shared success of economic cooperation to whole of Pakistan.
Babur Girgin, ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan, Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to PM and foreign secretary were also present during the meeting.
Separately, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that D-8 holds great potential to build on synergies between the eight leading Islamic countries.
He was talking to Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javed Zarif at the PM’s House. Zarif also participated in the 16th Council of Ministers Meeting of the D-8. The prime minister said Iran’s participation in the meeting reinforces shared confidence of the two countries in the forum. “We need to further strengthen economic ties within the D-8 family,” the prime minister said. As leading members of D-8, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran can play a more pro-active role to achieve the goals of economic development and prosperity of people, he said.
Meanwhile, the first round of Annual Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Turkey, within the framework of the High level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) established in 2009, was held at the Foreign Office. Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Ahmet Davutoglo led the respective delegations. The discussions encompassed a whole range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk