A blog of Pakistan-Turkey relations

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Pakistan-Turkey Bilateral Political Consultations

Ankara, 20 July 2011: The Foreign Secretaries’ level bilateral political consultations between Pakistan and Turkey were held in Ankara yesterday. Pakistan delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and the Turkish side by their Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Feridun Hadi Sinirlioğlu.

The two sides took stock of the entire spectrum of the bilateral relations including political, economic and trade, defence, cultural and education fields. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir noting the special nature of Pakistan-Turkey relations stressed the need for translating these excellent ties into more meaningful cooperation in the economic field.

It was agreed that the forthcoming meeting of Joint Economic Commission to be held in Ankara in near future will take up proposals for expanding bilateral trade and as well as investments in the energy, infrastructure and social sector development. Consultations for Preferential Trade Agreement will also be held simultaneously.

The two sides agreed to hold the next session of High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) by the end of this year or early next year. The last HLCC meeting was held in Ankara and its Pakistan’s turn to host the next session. Co-chaired by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, HLCC is the highest decision making body providing a structured mechanism of cooperation.

As envisioned by Presidents of Pakistan and Turkey, both sides agreed to explore the possibilities of further economic integration through improved railways and road connectivity that could be further extended to Afghanistan and the Central Asian region. A feasibility study is currently being undertaken for the upgradation of Istanbul-Islamabad cargo train service through involvement of the private sector.

Mr. Bashir praised Turkey’s important role for bringing peace and stability in the region and expressed support for Turkey’s proposal to hold a regional conference on Afghanistan on November 2 in Istanbul. Mr. Sinirlioğlu acknowledged valuable contributions and immense sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism in the region. He said that Turkey would always stand by Pakistan in these challenging times.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in North Africa and the Middle East.

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Photo caption: Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Mr. Salman Bashir with his Turkish counterpart Mr. Feridun Hadi Sinirlioğlu at Ankara on 19 July 2011.
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Pakistan – Türkiye İkili Siyasi Görüşmeler

Pakistan ve Türkiye arasında Dışişleri Müsteşarları seviyesinde yapılan ikili siyasi görüşmeler dün Ankara’da gerçekleşti. Pakistan heyetinin başkanlığını Dışişleri Müsteşarı Salman Bashir yaparken, Türk tarafının başkanlığını Dışişleri Müsteşarı Feridun Hadi Sinirlioğlu yaptı.

İkili ilişkilerin durumunu siyasi, ekonomik ve ticari, savunma, kültür ve eğitim alanları dahil olmak üzere geniş bir yelpazede değerlendirdiler. Dışişleri Müsteşarı Salman Bashir Pakistan ve Türkiye arasındaki mükemmel ilişkilerin, ekonomik alanda daha anlamlı bir düzeye ulaşması gerektiğinin altını çizdi.

Yakın gelecekte Ankara’da yapılacak olan Ortak Ekonomi Komisyonu toplantısında ikili ticareti geliştirmek, enerji yatırımları, altyapı ve sosyal hizmetlerin geliştirilmesi gibi konulara ilişkin tekliflerin sunulması kararlaştırıldı. Tercihli Ticaret Anlaşmasına ilişkin müzakereler de eş zamanlı olarak gerçekleştirilecek.

Bir sonraki Yüksek Düzeyli İşbirliği Konseyi (YDİK) toplantısının bu sene sonunda veya gelecek sene başında yapılması konusunda anlaşmaya varıldı. Son YDİK toplantısı Ankara’da yapılmıştı ve gelecek toplantıya Pakistan tarafı ev sahipliği yapacak. İki ülke Başbakanlarının eşbaşkanlığında gerçekleşen YDİK, yapılandırılmış birişbirliği mekanizması sağlayan en yüksek karar organı olma özelliği taşımaktadır.

Daha önce iki ülke Cumhurbaşkanlarının öngördüğü şekilde, demiryolu ve karayolu bağlantılarının iyileştirerek iki taraflı ekonomik entegrasyonu geliştirecek imkanların araştırılması ve daha sonra Afganistan ve Orta Asya’ya ulaştırılabileceği konusunda anlaşmaya varıldı. Şu anda özel sektörün katılımı ile İstanbul-İslamabad kargo tren servisinin iyileştirilmesi için bir fizibilite çalışması yürütülmektedir.

Sn.Bashir bölgeye barış ve istikrarı getirmek için Türkiye’nin oynadığı önemli rolü övdü ve Türkiye’nin 2 Kasım’da İstanbul’da Afganistan için düzenlemeyi teklif ettiği bölgesel konferans konusunda destek verdi.

Sn. Sinirlioğlu bölgede terörizme karşı mücadelede Pakistan halkının yaptığı değerli katkıların ve büyük fedakarlıkların altını çizdi. Bu zor zamanlarında Türkiye’nin her zaman Pakistan’ın yanında yer alacağını söyledi.

İki taraf ayrıca Kuzey Afrika ve Orta Doğu’daki durumlar konusunda fikir alış verişinde bulundu.

Karachi among cheapest cities in the world: Survey

Pakistani city of Karachi, which is also the country’s financial centre has been ranked among the cheapest city in the world, landing up at the bottom of the index for the “2011 Cost of Living survey,” released on 12^th July by M/s Mercer, a London-based global consulting firm.

Karachi, a sprawling city on the Indian Ocean with a population of about 18 million people, reigns as

Pakistan

's economic center and primary seaport. The international business hub, which hosts domestic companies as well as multinationals such as IBM, Chevron, Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline, ICI, Abbott Laboratories, etc. also happens to have the world's lowest cost of living for expatriates, according to this new survey by Mercer.

For its 2011 cost of living report, Mercer surveyed 214 locations around the world in which multinational companies and international organizations have a presence or are looking to set up operations. The ranking was based on a basket of more than 200 goods, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.

According to Mercer, expatriates in Karachi pay an average $353 per month to rent a luxury, two-bedroom apartment, one of the lowest rates among surveyed cities. In the second- and third-cheapest cities—Managua, Nicaragua, and Islamabad, Pakistan—the average rent is $800.

Main source http://www.mercer.com
Photo caption: A beautiful view of Chorangi Flyover, Karachi

Ambassador Haroon Shaukat Presenting Credentials to President Abdullah Gul

ANKARA, 22 June 2011: The newly appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, H.E. Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, presented his credentials to the President of Republic of Turkey H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül in an elegant ceremony held at the Çankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara.

Ambassador Shaukat Presents Credentials to Turkish President Gül

Speaking in Turkish, Ambassador Shaukat conveyed special greetings from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to President Abdullah Gül. He said both the government and the people of Pakistan have deep love and affection for their Turkish brothers and sisters and it is a unique previlige and honour to be Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey.

The newly appointed Ambassador said Pakistani nation takes pride in Turkey’s rise and strength. He said our friendship with Turkey is a source of strength for us. Ambassador Shaukat reiterated his resolve to work very closely with the Turkish friends to create a new chapter of special and strategic ties with more tangible cooperation in the commercial field.

Accepting the credentials of Ambassador Shaukat, the Turkish President asked the Ambassador to convey his warm greetings and good wishes to the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan and stated that Pakistan is a very important Muslim country with which Turkey have unique relations that pre-date the existence of the two countries. He said Turkey is keen to diversify the brotherly relations into a more concrete economic partnership.

ENDS

H.E. Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat Joins as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey

ANKARA, 15 June 2011: H.E. Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat assumed his duties today as Pakistan’s new Ambassador to Turkey.

A career diplomat, Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1978. His first posting abroad was in Pakistan Embassy Ankara where he served from 1982-1986. He is one of the senior most officers of the Pakistan Foreign Service, who is Turkish speaking. He has wide experience in the diplomatic service having served in various Pakistan missions abroad including Paris, New York, Niger and Riyadh.

Mr. Haroon Shaukat served as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Brazil 2006-2008 and was concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Bolivia, Columbia, Paraguay, and Suriname.

Before assuming his duties at Ankara, Mr. Haroon Shaukat was Special Secretary with additional charge of Afghanistan and ECO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad where earlier he served as Additional Foreign Secretary, Director General (South Asia) and Director General (United Nations).

Mr. Haroon Shaukat holds a masters degree in English Literature from the University of Punjab, Lahore and a Post-Graduate diploma in International Political Relations from IIAP, Paris. He qualified, among others, the United Nations Peace Keeping Training Programme, Brindisi, Italy (2003) and the National Management Course at Pakistan Administrative Staff College, Lahore (2005).

Mr. Haroon Shaukat is married and has three children. He enjoys playing cricket.

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Pakistani leadership felicitates Turkey

ANKARA, 14 June 2011: The President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani held separate telephonic conversations with the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday evening.

They felicitated him on the historic third time success of Justice & Development Party (AK Party) in parliamentary elections on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan. The Pakistani leaders expressed the hope that Pakistan’s relations with Turkey would be further strengthened under Mr. Erdoğan’s stewardship and that both the countries would charter a new course through broadening of economic and trade ties.

President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani also sent separate messages of felicitations to Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan.

President Zardari in his message said: “I am writing to convey my heartiest congratulations on your Government’s successful re-election. This is a powerful endorsement by the people of Turkey for all the progress and dynamism that you and your Government have brought to the modern, growing and prosperous Turkey. Your success is also a vindication that societies develop and strengthen under wise Governments that are built on strong democracies. As a time tested friend of Pakistan, it is specially heartening to see the continued success of

Turkey

under your sagacious leadership.”

Prime Minister Gilani in his letter addressed to Prime Minister Erdoğan said that the impressive victory of the AK Party testifies to the resonance of its manifesto with the aspirations of the Turkish people. The successful completion of your government’s second terms in office, he mentioned is also a mark of strength of the Turkish political system. As leader of a political party with a distinguished history of struggle for democratic ideals, I wish to congratulate you on this singular accomplishment, the Pakistani Prime Minister wrote.

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Chughtai Art Award for Young Turkish Artists

ANKARA, 27 May 2011: In order to promote an understanding between Turkey and Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Turkey in collaboration with National Education Directorate of Turkey organized an art competition titled “Chughtai Art Award,” named after renowned Pakistani artist Abdul Rahman Chughtai.

High school students of the 25 districts of Ankara Province participated in the competition. Depicting students’ ideas about Pakistan and Turkey, a total of 66 paintings were shortlisted for consideration of the jury, who selected 9 paintings for prizes in three categories. A painting made by Mr. Ibrahim Ozsozgun of Ankara Guzel Sanatlar Lisesi won the first prize.

Speaking at an Exhibition and Prize Distribution Ceremony here at Ankara, Pakistan’s Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Moin ul Haque said the affection and care of the peoples of our two countries has no match around the world. “Our confidence grows when we see such display of solidarity, love and support of our Turkish brethren,” said Mr. Haque.

He lauded the spirit and zeal of the students and teachers who organized the event. “Chughtai Art Award shall now be an annual feature in Turkey and the event shall be held on 23^rd March, which is also Pakistan’s National Day, he announced.

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Photo captions:

A group photo of prize winners of “Chughtai Art Award” with Mrs Naila Azizuddin, wife of Pakistan’s Ambassador, Mr. Moin-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s Deputy Head of Mission, and officials of the National Education Directorate of Turkey at Ankara, 27 May 2011.

Winner of the first prize of “Chughtai Art Award” Mr. Ibrahim Ozsozgun of Ankara Guzel Sanatlar Lisesi standing with his painting. Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara in collaboration with National Education Directorate of Turkey organized the competition and award ceremony, 27 May 2011.

Video: Senior Pakistani Judicial Officers Visits Turkey

ANKARA, 24 May 2011: A 13-member group of senior judicial officers from Pakistan visited Turkey from 15-25 May 2011 as part of their in-service training programme through International Islamic University.

Pakistan

’s Ambassador to

Turkey

H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin in a meeting with the judicial officers shared his thoughts about Pakistan Turkey relations.

The visiting delegation held meetings with Undersecretary of Turkish Ministry of Justice where they were briefed about the data processing of legal cases that has facilitated speedy justice in Turkey. The delegation also visited Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and interacted with the head of the organization. Diyanet has a particular role as a public institution in the facilitating and disseminating religious knowledge.

The visitors also interacted with their counterparts in Bursa Judicial Court and Sincan Judicial Court. They also had a chance to interact with scholars in Istanbul University’s Faculty of Law and were briefed about Turkish law system and its present structure.