Turkey wants to see a strong Pakistan, says Erdogan

In meeting with Shehbaz, Turkish president praises Pakistan's efforts against terrorism

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country wants to see a strengthened Pakistan.

Erdogan was talking to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who met him in Istanbul on Friday.

“The projects initiated in collaboration with Turkey in the Punjab province are vivacious symbols of Pak-Turk friendship,” said Erdogan.

“Under your leadership, the journey of development and prosperity of the Punjab is commendable and the efforts of Pakistan government for the provision of energy as well as the eradication of terrorism are worthwhile,” he told the Punjab CM.



The Turkish president also enquired about the health of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz – the wife of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif currently undergoing cancer treatment in London – and prayed for her swift recovery.

The younger Sharif told Erdogan that the people of Pakistan are proud of their friendship with Turkey.

“In recent years, the solid cooperation between the two countries in different sectors has given new dimensions to the friendship. Pakistan and Turkey have always helped each other and they will stand side by side in the future as well,” he said.



Turkish Commerce Minister Nihat Zeybekci also called on Sharif to discuss matters of mutual interest, including promotion of Pakistan-Turkey relations and an extension in bilateral trade cooperation.

Sharif performed his Friday prayers at Ortakoy mosque in the Besiktas neighborhood of Istanbul, and called for the unity and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah, as well as the salvation of the Rohingya Muslims from the forces of evil.

Earlier, the Punjab CM was given a warm welcome on his arrival at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey received the CM, along with high-ranking Turkish officials.