Pakistani Erdogan fan adorns truck with 'ideal leader's' portrait

Dera Ghazi Khan transporter says Turkish president represents Muslims worldwide

Gulzar Ahmad, a Pakistani fan of Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan has had the back of his truck painted with the Turkish leader's portrait.

The 38 year-old small-time transporter from Dera Ghazi Khan, who  has never been to Turkey nor come across a Turkish citizen told Anadolu Agency that Erdogan was an ideal leader. “I love the Turkish president. He represents Muslims of the world and is my ideal leader.  We know that Turkey is the only country that stands by Pakistan. That’s why we love Turkey and its president," Ahmad said.



Ahmad’s third truck featuring Erodgan’s portrait was bedecked in January. This is the first time the president has been featured on a truck. His portraits have been broadcast on TV and placed on billboards nationwide earlier.

Truck art in Pakistan usually costs owners a lot of money.“The artwork and paint on my truck cost me 50,000 rupees,” Ahmad said. It is rather easy to commission a design. You provide the artist a picture and they render the image on a vehicle, he said.



Truckers in Pakistan are fond of getting their trucks painted with favorite cricketers, film actors, politicos and military men.  “I would say Pakistanis love Turkey more than any other country. More than China, even more than Saudi Arabia, both of which are considered close allies,” Ahmad said.

This article originally appeared on Anadolu Agency