ISLAMABAD: On the first day of his sanctioned visit to Turkey on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that the closeness of Pakistan and Turkey’s relationship wasn’t reflected in trade relations between the two countries, and expressed the desire that the volume of trade between the two should go up to$ 5 billion per time.
Addressing the Turkey- Pakistan Business Forum, the PM rued what he nominated as the “ maltreatment ” of Turkish investors at the hands of the former government over the once four times.
“ The first metro in Lahore was designed by Turkey. Solid waste operation moxie gave to Pakistan in peanuts. Turkish trained our police free of cost. But in return for what we’ve done to our Turkish sisters. ”
He also blazoned a decision to lift visa restrictions for Turkish citizens.
In an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu, the PM also thanked the leadership of Turkey for its principled support of the Jammu and Kashmir disagreement.
“ Both Pakistan and Turkey have a similarity of views on indigenous and transnational issues and enjoy close collaboration on bilateral, indigenous, and multinational forums, ” Sharif said ahead of his three-day sanctioned visit to Turkey.
On Pakistan’s part in US policy in the region, he said Pakistan and the US had a long-standing and broad-grounded relationship in colorful areas of collective interest.
“ We wish to consolidate and widen our engagement with the US, which remains Pakistan’s biggest import request and a major source of FDI and remittances, ” he said.
On China- Pakistan Economic Corridor( CPEC), he said the vision of connectivity and win-win cooperation at the heart of the design was in line with his government’s precedences, as well as the vision for Pakistan as a peaceful, prosperous region.
He mentioned that work was underway on CPEC Special Economic Zones, and Pakistan was incentivizing foreign investments in crucial artificial sectors.
On relations with India, he said Pakistan pursued its shift from geo-strategy to geo-economics, we’re looking to forge hookups, especially within the region, grounded on connectivity, collaborative development, and prosperity. The high minister was accompanied on this trip by Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Investment Board Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and PMs special sidekicks Tariq Fatemi and Fahad Hussain. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto- Zardari will also join the delegation.
During his visit, the high minister will have a one-on-one meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which will be followed by delegation-position addresses. A business delegation from Pakistan comprising representatives of leading companies across colorful sectors will also share in the business engagements.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto- Zardari also met with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu upon his appearance.
https://twitter.com/MevlutCavusoglu/status/1531702920177143808
“ Hosted my family FM@BBhuttoZardari of#Pakistan in Ankara. Reviewed medications of PM Shahbaz Sharif’s visit. Will further develop our cooperation w/ friendly and fraternal Pakistan on the 75th anniversary of our political relations, ” the Turkish FM twittered.
Great pleasure to meet brother @MevlutCavusoglu again this time in Ankara. Grateful for his warm hospitality, hosting me for dinner at his residence & fruitful discussions on a range of bilateral as well as regional issues. #PakTurkiyeAt75 our partnership will reach new highs IA. pic.twitter.com/ptc67ikCZw
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 31, 2022
Mr. Bhutto Zardari thanked his host and twittered that “ fruitful conversations on a range of bilateral as well as indigenous issues ” also took place during the meeting.
