Prime Minister of Pakistan stopover at Ankara, Turkey

ANKARA, February 9: En-route to UK, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Raja Pervez Ashraf had a brief stopover at Ankara Esenboğa International Airport today. Turkish Minister for Science, Industry & Technology Mr. Nihat Ergün alongwith members of Turkish Grand National Assembly Prof. Dr. Eşref Taş, Ms Tülay Selamoğlu, Mr. Muzaffer Çakar and Mr. Orhan Erdem and senior officials of the Turkish Foreign Ministry received the dignitary. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat and officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Ankara were also present at the Airport.

Raja Pervez Ashraf recalled the recent productive visits of his Turkish counterpart Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Pakistan and said the people of Pakistan cherish the good memories of these visits. He asked Mr. Nihat Ergün to convey his best wishes to the Turkish Prime Minister and people. He also conveyed the greetings of President Zardari to President Gul.

The Pakistani Prime Minister said Turkey and Pakistan are like two brothers who always support each other during good and bad times. He briefed the Turkish hosts about the political situation in Pakistan. Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Pakistani state institutions are evolving which will further strengthen democracy. We have a strong election commission that will ensure free and fair elections, he maintained. For the first time in the parliamentary history of Pakistan, a democratically elected Parliament will complete its full term, he said. “This will be a landmark success in our quest for democracy,” he added.

The Prime Minister during his interaction with the hosts stressed on the need to learn each other’s languages i.e Turkish and Urdu, which he said will further increase understanding and will help boost people to people contacts.

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