‘Fraternity has turned into productive economic ties’

Turkish ambassador and Albayrak chairman call on the chief minister.

LAHORE:

A delegation led by the chairman of the Albayrak Group of Companies from Turkey, Ahmet Albayrak, met Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday. They discussed promotion of cooperation in energy and solid waste management, among other sectors.

The chief minister said there were deep rooted relations between Pakistan and Turkey, which had transformed into productive economic ties in recent years. He said the modern cleanliness system, introduced in Lahore with Turkish cooperation, was now being extended to other cities in the Punjab. He said an agreement had been signed with Albayrak for implementing the system in Rawalpindi and Murree.

Sharif said Lahore’s metro bus project was also launched with the cooperation of Turkey. He said work was underway on the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project. He said the government was starting metro bus projects in Multan and Faisalabad as well.

Albayrak said cooperation with the Punjab government would continue. He said the completion of the Lahore metro bus project in a short time was an achievement.

Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Ahmed Hassaan and Punjab Metro Bus Authority Managing Director Sibtain Fazal Haleem were also present.

Turkish Ambassador Sadik Babur Girgin also called on Sharif. Bilateral relations and mutual cooperation were discussed.

Sharif said a modern hospital equipped with the latest facilities had been constructed in Muzaffargarh with the cooperation of Turkey. He said this hospital had been named after the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish ambassador said there was a strong bond of love and brotherhood between the people of Turkey and Pakistan. The Turk delegation strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Karachi Airport.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2014.