COAS for enhanced cooperation with Turkish armed forces

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday emphasised the need to further enhance the existing military to military cooperation between brotherly armed forces of Pakistan and Turkey.

“Enhanced Pakistan-Turkey cooperation would have positive impact on regional security,” the COAS said at a meeting with Turkish Chief of General Staff (CGS) General Hulusi Akar, who called on him here at the General Headquarters.

Matters related to regional security were discussed, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release stated. The visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistan's efforts in the fight against terrorism and appreciated launching of operation Raddul Fasad for elimination of terrorism from the country. 

Earlier on arrival, a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented guard of honour to the visiting general who laid a wreath at Yadgar-e- Shohada to pay homage to the martyrs of Pakistan Army.

General Bajwa also visited headquarters Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and paid rich tributes to the FWO martyrs at Yadgar-e-Shohada. Later, Director General of FWO Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal briefed the COAS on FWO’s ventures at both national and international level. The briefing encompassed organisational structure of FWO, its vision and developmental strategy in the domain of national development.

The DG FWO informed the COAS that FWO has so far completed over 15,000 kilometres roads across Pakistan while 1,363km roads are under the construction. He said currently the FWO is working on mega projects including Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) Karachi-Thatha Dual Carriageway, Swat Expressway, Lahore Ring Road, Lahore-Sialkot Motorway Road, Hakla to DI Khan (Package-III) along with miscellaneous other road projects in Balochistan and Fata. Work on Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) is also in advance stages and water shortages of Karachi will considerably be addressed.

The COAS was also informed that FWO has been significantly contributing to address the water and energy security of the country. The DG said the FWO has recently completed Gomal Zam Dam while work on Kurram-Tangi Dam and Jagharn-II hydropower project has commenced. The FWO has also been awarded 3x hydropower projects in KP and has also aligned itself with Wapda to significantly contribute towards development of Indus cascade dams and hydropower projects.

The FWO DG further briefed the COAS about the efforts put in by FWO in launching of first ever mega trade convoy in November 2016 thus contributing towards operationalisation of CPEC in an earlier timeframe. The FWO’s future business mega ventures were also presented along with efforts being made to enhance strategic connectivity.

FWO’s role in development of mining sector was also part of the briefing. The COAS was informed that efforts are being put in to optimally harness mining sector’s potential.

Finally, the army chief was informed that the FWO has established itself as a reputed construction company in the UAE and Afghanistan while projects in Sri Lanka and Maldives are also being perused. The DG said the FWO is contributing in socio-economic development of the country through execution of strategic and high value projects.