Erdogan thanks Nawaz for solidarity over failed coup

Meets Punjab CM; says he can’t forget
love during his visit to Pakistan  

LAHORE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is thankful to the prime minister and the parliament of Pakistan for expressing solidarity during a failed coup in Turkey and the Pak-Turkish friendship will peak in future. 

He expressed these views in a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in Mayor's Office, Kaysere, Turkey. The Turkish president spared time to meet the chief minister by pending all his engagements.

He welcomed the chief minister warmly. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was feeling great pleasure by meeting his brother. He said that Turkey always stood with Pakistan. Expressing good wishes for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan, he said that Pakistan and Turkey had always supported each other and would support each other on important matters in future as well. The Turkish president said that he could not forget the love he had received during his visit to Pakistan. 

Talking to the Turkish president, Shahbaz Sharif said that relations between Pakistan and Turkey were touching new heights. He said that Turkey had made unprecedented progress under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He said that Erdogan had written his name in golden letters in history by playing the role of a great leader during the failed coup. The chief minister also met with Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirm. The Turkish prime minister thanked on cooperation extended by Pakistan to Turkey at various levels. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif has said efforts made by the PML-N government for eliminating corruption are being appreciated at the international level. 

Commenting on a report published by famous American Journal “Foreign Policy” on corruption and nepotism, the chief minister said Pakistan is performing better as compared to the neighbouring country regarding eradication of corruption, which reflects the resolve of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for elimination of corruption from the country. Shahbaz Sharif said the better policy of transparency in government affairs, elimination of corruption and improvement in service delivery was improving the country’s image at world level.  

He said the report of Foreign Policy verifies the report of Transparency International in January 2016 regarding efforts of the Government of Pakistan for eradication of corruption and three steps improvement at international level. 

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also participated in an inaugural ceremony of Abdullah Gull Presidential Museum and Library in Kaysere, Turkey, on Sunday. The function was attended by presidents, prime ministers, ministers and senior personalities from different countries of the world.

In his address, former Turkish president Abdullah Gull and other speakers especially mentioned Shahbaz Sharif in their address and thanked him for his participation in the ceremony. 

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif has said that the role of local governments is important in resolving the problems of the people at the local level. He said honest leadership imbued with the spirit of public service would be brought forward for heading local governments. He said the leadership of local governments would play its role in furthering the development process and have to work hard round-the-clock for resolving problems of masses.

Addressing a meeting at Model Town, Lahore, through a video link from Kaysere, he said that with the blessings of Allah Almighty and support of the people, the PML-N had got victory in the local government elections and it was the demand of the success to work hard for public service and no efforts be spared for resolving the problems of the people. He said the way people had supported the PML-N in local government elections, the LG leadership would have to adopt the policy of hard work and honesty for discharging the responsibility of this mandate.