Turkey and Pakistan working for closer ties
Turkey’s Ambassador, Hasan Kemal Gur, in an exclusive interview to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), disclosed that during his visit the Turkish minister would also attend the Economic Cooperation Organisation ministers’ meetings.
The ambassador said: “Ways are being worked out to translate the desires of the two nations to boost their economic ties. The minister will discuss the ways and means to increase the volume of trade between the two countries with close brotherly relations.”
He said one of the steps would be to enhance air links. He said a meeting between flag carriers of brotherly countries, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Turkish Airlines, was due on July 15 to enhance the two weekly flights to seven a week.
“Of these, two flights a week will be between Istanbul and Islamabad while five between Istanbul and Karachi. These are bound to open the beautiful Northern Areas and other attractions.”
About the forthcoming visit of President Pervez Musharraf to Turkey before the end of the year, he said the two countries might sign an agreement for a joint fight against terrorism. He said his country was a holding a fair in Karachi from October 18-12 this year to exhibit what his country was making. It would be followed by fairs and exhibitions in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Peshawar, he added.
“Pakistan will hold a single country exhibition in the spring of 2004 in Istanbul. That will provide Pakistan a very good opportunity to exhibit the areas of specialties of Pakistani craftsmen,” he said.
About cooperation in education and tourism, he said both Education Minister Zubaida Jalal and Tourism Minister Rais Munir had been invited to Turkey for which dates would be worked out. He said proposals forwarded by the former minister of science and technology, Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, for cooperation in science and technology were under consideration and soon a common strategy would be adopted.
