President eulogises 'visionary' Aga Khan IV

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ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Zardari met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on Monday and offered his condolences on the passing of his father Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who died in the Portuguese capital last week, the press wing of the President Secretariat said in a press release.

It said that the president expressed his heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan. He said that the Pakistani nation mourned the loss of a "true friend" and "great philanthropist", whose "visionary leadership improved the lives of people" around the world.

The president lauded the late Aga Khan's contributions to Pakistan's social and economic development, particularly in healthcare, education, community development, and poverty alleviation. He hoped that Prince Rahim would continue his father's mission to serve the cause of humanity.

While en route to Lisbon, the president had a stopover at Istanbul Airport and held a brief meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties, matters of mutual interest, and exchanged courtesies.

The meeting between Zardari and Erdogan came as the Turkish president embarked on a four-day three-nation visit that would take him to Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan. According to Turkiye's Sabah Daily, Erdogan would visit Pakistan on the last leg of his tour.

It noted that Pakistan-Turkiye relations reached the highest level under successive tenures of the Turkish president. Two countries particularly increased cooperation in the defence industry, with deals signed on the acquisition of naval vessels and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).

During the February 10-13 visit, Erdogan's meeting would "focus on enhancing cooperation in various fields, as well as hot topics on the international agenda, from the Palestine-Israel conflict to the situation in Syria … as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict", the daily reported.

(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)