Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah's request on Thursday to explore investment opportunities in different projects in Sindh and work with the Sindh government on schemes of urban transport and waste management.
The foreign minister consented to the request at the inauguration of the Turkish Consulate's new building in Clifton, where the CM went down memory lane, calling to mind long-standing ties between Pakistan and Turkey.
Addressing the ceremony, the CM said Pakistan's relationship with Turkey predated the Independence.
Then, citing an example from history, he added, "Muslims living under the British rule considered the sultan of the Ottoman Empire their caliph and led the Khilafat Movement to collect donations for and support their Turkish brethren in their struggle for independence."
The CM further stated that Pakistan and Turkey had experienced similar struggles for democracy and that both the countries not just have strong diplomatic ties, but also deep economic, religious, cultural and military relations.
"Turkey was among the first few countries that recognised the independent state of Pakistan and supported Pakistan in getting the United Nations membership," he recalled, adding that Turkey had also expressed unequivocal support to Pakistan on the issues of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the Turkish government had announced a $150 million aid package for 2005 earthquake victims in Pakistan and had also provided assistance in dealing with the aftermath of 2010 flood. Similarly, Pakistan had sent aid to Turkey after earthquakes jolted the latter in 1999 and 2011, he added.
He further highlighted that the Pakistan-Turkey Strategic Economic Framework had led to trade and investment worth billions between the two countries. "And with the TurkeyPakistan Free Trade Agreement underway, we can foresee our bilateral trade achieving new heights," the CM said.
Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu, along with a delegation, attended a reception at the CM House. There, the chief minister invited Turkish investors to invest in urban transport, waste management, renewable energy projects and coal mining.
The visiting Turkish minister agreed to send his investors to Sindh to explore investment opportunities. He also agreed to work with the Sindh government in the areas of urban transport and waste management.
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