Turkish President Abdullah Gul awards Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Turkey's Order of The Republic during a ceremony in Ankara, on September 17, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received the highest Turkish Civil Award, “Medal of Democracy” on his three day visit to Turkey on Tuesday at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Express News reported.
This award will help further the ties between the two countries.
On receiving the award, Nawaz Sharif said “It is indeed a great honour for me to have been bestowed with the ‘Medal of Democracy’ by your Excellency”.
He further added “I am deeply touched by the exalted recognition granted for my humble contribution to furthering our fraternal relations, a calling close to my heart”.
He also said “It is a renewal of an abiding commitment to work continuously and untiringly towards exploring new vistas for cooperation between our two countries”.
During the visit the PM also addressed the business forum and signed important agreements as well as Memorandum’s of Understanding with the Turkish government.
Nawaz Sharif also had separate meetings with leading Turkish entrepreneurs and investors. Leading businessmen from Pakistan also attended the forum to explore mutually beneficial entrepreneurial opportunities.
Turkey and Pakistan have had a history of positive cooperation. In 2005, Turkey’s housing development administration assisted in the construction of 5,000 homes in earthquake-affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Turkish companies are becoming increasingly active in Pakistan’s energy sector as well and in 2009, Turkish firms built Pakistan’s first wind turbines.
COMMENTS (14)
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@Werdity: dude stop reading into things too much, the japanese bow when they greet, its not a sign of weakness or anything, he's just bowing to receive the medal and thats how you show some respect.
Has anyone seen recent picture of Nawaz, Shahbaz and Shahbaz's son with the PM of Turkey? What democracy is this? All in the family. No medal should be given to family party.
In all honesty, not that I support PPP, but this medal should go to Zardari...he has kept his nerves and kept the Democracy boat afloat.
No appreciation to their Govt performance, I think it was the worst in the history of Pakistan.
i think turkey president might have forgot that he was the punjab chief minister at the time of Zia ul Haq
i think this medal is like a bribe..
There is something wrong in the picture. A leader of a nation never bows to another leader of a nation. Here Nawaz is bowing to the Turk. There is this attitude in the Pakistani political system that turkey is the "elder brother". But the idea I get about Pakistan when talking to Turks is that they think they are the boss and not the "elder brother" because of historical conquests if this region by Turks and because of the adoption of their cultural practices by people of these region.
Congratulations Mian Sahib.
@Baba ji: Not just metro, lets hope for many other projects, and take things positively :)
I thought he will receive "medal of the rich"
@sabi: "We have a politician who receives medal of democracy abroad...." . Is it a recognition by Recep Bey that our man was spreading democracy by attempting to destroy the Supreme Court of Pakistan? We too will pin a tin badge on Recep Effendi's chest for strengthening the roots of democracy with blazing guns in Gezi Park. . The outcome of the trip will be signing of an an MOU between the two states for building a Transit System.
Dang !!!! Another metro project on the way ....
We have a politician who receives medal of democracy abroad and we have a politician who faces interrogation for hours on his arrival on foreign land.World is not stupid.