PM to pay three-day official visit to Turkey

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a three day official visit to Turkey today  (Tuesday) to further boost friendly ties with the brotherly country. 

This will be the Prime Minister's first visit to Turkey since assuming office.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will have tete-a-tete with President Erdogan. This would be followed by delegation-level talks.

Besides covering the entire gamut of Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relations, the two leaders will exchange views on regional and international issues. They will address a Joint Press Stakeout after their meetings.

President Erdogan will also host a dinner in honour of the Prime Minister.

This year, Pakistan and Turkey are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

During the tour, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the President of Turkey would jointly unveil a logo, marking the commencement of celebrations of this important milestone in the long history of exceptional bilateral ties.

The Turkish Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Health would call on the Prime Minister during the visit.

The Prime Minister will have extensive interaction with leading Turkish businessmen and potential investors from diverse sectors. He will be hosted by President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.

Shehbaz Sharif will also attend a Pakistan-Turkey Business Council Forum, hosted in collaboration with Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board.

During these events, the Prime Minister will highlight Pakistan's vast investment potential and encourage Turkish companies to invest in Pakistan and work to strengthen Pakistan-Turkey trade and economic ties. Prominent businessmen from Pakistan will participate in these events and will also hold Business to Business meetings on the sidelines.

It is pertinent to mention that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the first world leader to call Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on 11 April this year to felicitate him. 

The two leaders also spoke on telephone on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Heads of selected Turkish companies will also call on the Prime Minister during his stay in Ankara.

Besides being part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, the Prime Minister's visit to Turkey is important in the context of deepening and broadening bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, regional connectivity, health, education, culture and people-to-people relations.

It will help in further strengthening the leadership dialogue and existing multi-dimensional strategic relationship between the two countries and will impart fresh impetus to the efforts to take this unique partnership to new heights.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Ministers, SAPMs, and senior officials.

A business delegation from Pakistan comprising representatives of leading companies across various sectors will travel separately to Turkey to participate in the business engagements.

The relationship between Pakistan and Turkey is underpinned by structured institutional mechanisms.

The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council is the primary platform at the leadership-level, which has been instrumental in further cementing bilateral relations. So far, six sessions of the HLSCC have taken place. The 7th session is slated to take place this year.

The historic and long-standing relations between Pakistan and Turkey are firmly anchored in common faith, shared history, and a glorious tradition of mutual support to each other on issues of core interest.

The Turkish leadership and government have steadfastly supported the just cause of Kashmir. Turkey is an important and active member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The two countries have convergent views on a range of issues including peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Palestine, and countering Islamophobia.

A large number of Turkish companies have invested over one billion dollars in different sectors, including construction, power, solid waste management, hygiene products, electronics and dairy, in Pakistan. Prominent investors include Al Bayrak, Oz Pak, Zorlu, Arcelik, Siyahkalem, Sutas, Coca-Cola Icecek, and Hayat Kimiya.