Pakistan’s President to visit Turkey

ANKARA, 8 April 2011: President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari will pay an official visit to Turkey from 11-14 April, 2011. During the visit, the President will meet President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Speaker Turkish Grand National Assembly Mehmet Ali Şahin. He will also interact with parliamentarians, business community, think-tanks and the media.

The President in his meetings with the Turkish leadership will take stock of bilateral relations, discuss ways and means to strengthen economic and commercial relations with focus on up-grading rail, road, and air links. Recent developments in the region would also be discussed between the leaders.

Turkish President H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül will confer Devlet Nişan (Order of the State) in recognition of the outstanding services of President Zardari for further strengthening the close cordial relations between the two brotherly countries.

The visit will give a new momentum to the bilateral relations especially in the fields of economy and trade as well as enhancing connectivity.

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Desecration of the Holy Quran : President Zardari telephones President Gul

ANKARA, 28 March: Pakistan’s President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari on 25 March telephoned President Abdullah Gul of Turkey and talked about the recent incident of the deliberate desecration of the Holy Quran by a lunatic in Florida and the need for collectively urging the UN to take note of it and evolve plans for promoting cultural and religious harmony in the world.

The President said that it was time that the downward slide of rationality and sanity was arrested through concerted national and international efforts.

The two Presidents agreed that deliberate desecration of the Holy Quran was a most despicable act and that steps needed to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such irrational acts.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties and regional situation.

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Commemorating March 23 by Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Commemorating March 23 - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Pakistan Day Commemorated in Turkey

ANKARA: 23 March 2011:   Pakistan Embassy in Ankara commemorated “Pakistan Day” at a ceremony here today. The Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Tariq Azizuddin unfurled the Pakistan flag on the tune of National Anthem in presence of the Pakistani community and Embassy officials.  The Ambassador read out messages of President and Prime Minister.

The President in his message stated that it is a proud day for every Pakistani as we celebrate the triumph of democracy over dictatorship and have demonstrated to the world that dictatorship can never take roots in Pakistan. Seventy two years ago, on this day, the Muslims of subcontinent set out to achieve the goal of a separate homeland for themselves. Our founding fathers had envisaged a democratic and pluralistic state where constitutionalism and rule of law would reign supreme and where minorities will have equal rights as citizens.

The Prime Minister in his message reiterated the Government’s commitment of translating the dream of Pakistan’s founding fathers into reality and pledged to continue the path of reconciliation and dialogue to resolve the national issues in concurrence with all stakeholders.

In the evening, the Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara will host a reception where the Turkish political and military leadership, parliamentarians, civil society, media and members of Pakistan community are invited to participate.

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Photo Captions:

Pakistan’s Ambassador in Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin reading out messages of the President and Prime Minister to mark the Pakistan National Day at Ankara, 23 March 2011.

To commemorate the National Day of Pakistan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin unfurling the national flag at Ankara on 23 March 2011.

23 March 2011 at Pakistan Embassy Ankara

ANKARA: 23 March 2011:   Pakistan Day was commemorated with the recitation from the Holy Qura’an followed by unfurling the national flag by the Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Tariq Azizuddin on the tune of National Anthem in the presence of the Pakistani community and Embassy officials.  The Ambassador read out messages of President and Prime Minister.

The President in his message stated that it is a proud day for every Pakistani as we celebrate the triumph of democracy over dictatorship and demonstrate to the world that dictatorship can never take roots in Pakistan. Seventy two years ago, on this day, the Muslims of subcontinent set out to achieve the goal of a separate homeland for themselves. Our founding fathers had envisaged a democratic and pluralistic state where constitutionalism and rule of law would reign supreme and where minorities will have equal rights as citizens.

The Prime Minister in his message reiterated the commitment of the government to translating the dream of our founding fathers into reality and pledged to continue the path of reconciliation and dialogue to resolve the national issues in concurrence with all stakeholders.

Gen. Khalid Meets Gül, Gen. Koşaner

ANKARA, March 17: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Kahlid Shameem Wynne, who is on an official visit to Turkey, called on Turkish President H.E. Mr Abdullah Gül on Wednesday.

Gen. Khalid apprised the President about the ongoing efforts of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and extremism. “Both Pakistan and Turkey have unanimity of views on regional and international issues,” said Gen. Khalid. Both Turkey and Pakistan desires to further strengthen the relationship through bilateral exchanges, he added.

The Chairman earlier visited the Turkish General Staff Headquarters where he was received by Commander of Turkish Armed Forces General Işik Koşaner. A smartly turned out Tri-Service guard of honour presented salute. Chairman and his Turkish counterpart discussed matters of mutual interest and reiterated strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, Chairman Joint Chiefs of staff Committee visited Anitkabir, Ataturk’s Mausoleum to pay homage to the Great Turkish Leader and founder of modern Turkey.

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Pakistan Ambassador to Turkey talking with President Karachi Chamber of ...

A visiting Pakistani businessmen delegation led by President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muhammad Saeed Shafiq, called on Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin at Ankara on 3 March 2011 who briefed them about economic relations between the two countries. "In the year 2010, bilateral between Pakistan and Turkey touched US$ 1 billion, and efforts are underway to increase volume of this trade to US $ 2 billion by the year 2012," said Mr. Azizudin.
Mr. Shafiq during the meeting stressed on the need to train unemployed in different skills so that their employability could be increased. We need to encourage self-employment for entrepreneurial youth who could speed up the pace of industrialization in Pakistan, he added.

Turkey keen on increased economic ties with Pakistan

ANKARA, 4 March 2011:  A 7-member delegation of Pakistan’s Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) led by its President Mr. Muhammad Saeed Shafiq, met here today with Mr. Husnu Dilemre, Director General of the Turkish Foreign Trade Undersecretariat’s General Directorate of Agreements.

The delegation conveyed the sensitivities of Pakistan vis-à-vis recent safeguard measures under consideration that will impose additional custom duties on the imports of certain textile products from developing countries that include imports from Pakistan as well. The visiting delegation was assured that Turkey fully appreciates Pakistan’s concerns specially the efforts to stabilize Pakistan’s economy after devastating floods.

“In the same spirit,” Mr. Husnu emphasized, “Turkey has already shown wholehearted support to European Union’s initiative at World Trade Organization to grant Pakistani goods increased market access in the wake of floods.” On growing economic ties between Pakistan and Turkey, Mr. Husnu informed that there is dynamic growth in bilateral trade between Pakistan and Turkey.

President KCCI Mr. Shafiq invited Turkish businessmen to their annual event “My Karachi” that will be held in Karachi from 22-24 July 2011. He also invited Turkish businessmen to invest in sectors like alternative energy, value added sector, construction, etc. The delegation was assured that the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat will contact concerned Turkish institutions respectively.

Earlier, the visiting Pakistani businessmen called on Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin who briefed them about economic relations between the two countries. “In the year 2010, bilateral between Pakistan and Turkey touched US$ 1 billion, and efforts are underway to increase volume of this trade to US $ 2 billion by the year 2012,” said Mr. Azizudin.

Mr. Shafiq during the meeting stressed on the need to train unemployed in different skills so that their employability could be increased. We need to encourage self-employment for entrepreneurial youth who could speed up the pace of industrialization in Pakistan, he added.

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Photo captions:

President KCCI Mr. Mr. Muhammad Saeed Shafiq presenting KCCI shield to Director General of Turkish Foreign Trade Undersecretariat Mr. Husnu Dilemre at Ankara on 4 March 2011.

KCCI delegation in a group photo with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin at Ankara

237 More Pakistanis to be airlifted from Libya

ANKARA, 4 March 2011: On the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Embassy of Pakistan in Turkey has chartered a special plane to airlift 237 Pakistanis stranded in the Libyan city of Sirte.

The chartered plane will reach Sirte tomorrow at noon (local time) and will bring them to Istanbul at about 6.00 p.m. local time. Around midnight, a PIA flight will flew these passengers to Islamabad. The plane will reach Islamabad in the early hours of Sunday, 6^th March. Details of the passengers will be available on http://pakturkey.blogspot.com

Pakistan Embassy officials Mr. Murad Ashraf Janjua (Consul Istanbul) and Mr. Saad Warraich (Second Secretary, Ankara) will travel in the chartered plane to assist in providing necessary consular services and make travel documents for these passengers.

On the directives of Foreign Secretary, Pakistan Embassy in Turkey has been designated as the regional focal point and coordinating all evacuation efforts. Through the efforts of our Embassy in Tripoli and Ankara, a total of 673 Pakistanis stranded in Libya have so far been safely evacuated through Turkey.

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195 stranded Pakistanis previously working in Libya reach Lahore, Pakistan by special PIA plane from Dalaman, Turkey at 2.00 p.m. 3rd March 2011

ANKARA, 3 March 2011: A special PIA plane arranged by Ministry of Foreign Affairs left with 195 Pakistani passengers onboard from Turkish airport of Dalaman at 6.00 a.m. local time and is scheduled to reach Lahore about 2.00 p.m. PST. These Pakistanis were earlier evacuated through ferry from Libya. Their names could be seen on http://pakturkey.blogspot.com

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Photos caption: Pakistani workers evacuated from Libya by Pakistan Embassy in Turkey through ferry, waiting for boarding a chartered PIA plane at Turkey's Dalaman airport on 3rd March. They reached safely to Lahore airport on 3rd March 2011 at about 2.00 p.m.