ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured boosting bilateral trade with Ankara and vowed to make Pakistan a self-reliant and politically stable country. He stated this in an interview to Turkish news agency before embarking on three-day visit to Ankara.
Premier left for his three-day maiden visit to Ankara after becoming Prime Minister, on Turkish President Racep Tayyip Erdogan’s invitation.
While departing for Ankara, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that it is time that Pakistan and Turkey to “leverage their excellent bonds to upgrade bilateral ties.”
“Departing for visit to Turkey. Time has come for Pakistan & Turkey to leverage their excellent bonds to upgrade bilateral ties. Era of regional connectivity, shared development & common destiny calls for a fresh approach. Look forward to discussing this with my brother @RTErdogan,” he Tweeted.
In conversation with the Turkish agency earlier, the prime minister said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy exemplary relations, “grounded firmly in common religious, cultural and linguistic links.”
He said that the two countries have had each other’s back against all the challenges during the last seven-and-a-half decade of diplomatic relationship.
“Pakistan and Turkey support each other on all issues of core national interest — whether it is Jammu and Kashmir or Northern Cyprus,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said while responding to a question.
The premier thanked the Republic of Turkey and its leadership for principled support on the issue of Kashmir.
PM Shehbaz Sharif lauded the accord over regional and international issues and people-to-people and cultural contact between Pakistan and Turkey. He, however, pointed out that the current level of bilateral trade doesn’t truly represent the strength of Pakistan-Turkey ties, saying that more has to be done in the said regard.
The prime minister expressed intention to encourage Turkish investors and business sector to benefit from the vast area of opportunities and huge consumer market in energy, infrastructure, e-commerce, municipal agro-based industry and IT sectors in Pakistan.
