President of Pakistan-Turkey Friendship Association receives Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

Kayaturk has helped Pakistan get Turkish assistance in fields of transportation, energy generation.

ISLAMABAD: Burhan Kayaturk, President of Pakistan and Turkey Friendship Association (PTFA) since 2001, was awarded with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on Friday to honour his services for Pakistan.

Kayaturk, during his tenure, has helped Pakistan get Turkish assistance in the fields of transportation, solid waste management, energy generation and real estate development in order to make Islamabad one of the world’s most developed capitals.

He had played a remarkable role during the relief and rehabilitation work for the victims of earthquakes in the Turkish city of Van few months back and in Pakistan in 2005.

The PTFA president is also the chairman of the Turkey-Pakistan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. During the last few years, Kayaturk has facilitated setting up of business and trade connections between Pakistan and Turkey.

“Around 350 of the total 500 members of the Turkish parliament are a part of PTFA,” said Kayaturk, adding that the economy of Turkey was improving day by day and democracy is strengthening paving way for progress and prosperity of the nation.

He added that enhanced cooperation and experience sharing in the education sector can prove fruitful for both the countries.

Kayaturk further said that currently more than 150 Pakistani students are studying at Turkish higher education institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Prime Minister’s Task Force Faisal Sakhi Butt praised Kayaturk’s vision for progress. “As Islamabad and Ankara are the sister cities, the development vision of Kayaturk would serve well for making Islamabad a model metropolis” he said.

Federal Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) information secretary MNA Qamar Zaman Kaira, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Raja Parvez Akhter, among others attended the ceremony.