Full text: Joint declaration on future directions of Pakistan-Turkey strategic relationship, 17 November 2016

The President of the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Pakistan on the invitation of President of Pakistan, His Excellency Mamnoon Hussain on 16-17 November 2016. He was accompanied by a high level delegation. During the meeting between His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan His Excellency Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, at Islamabad on 17 November 2016, the two leaders exchanged views on the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relationship as well as issues of regional and international importance.

The two sides:

Committed to further enhancing bilateral cultural collaboration and people-to-people contacts through tourism; cultural and educational exchanges; collaboration with regard to preservation and restoration of archeological and historical sites; and promotion of Turkish and Urdu languages and literatures in the two countries including through the Cultural Centers being established.

Emphasized the time-tested, historic and ever-growing fraternal ties between the two people and governments, epitomized by exceptionally strong bonds of goodwill, mutual trust and understanding that are embedded deep in common cultural and religious heritage, and a shared vision for the future.

Expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved towards transforming this warm and cordial relationship into a strong strategic partnership, and reiterated their mutual resolve to explore new avenues for collaboration, to utilize untapped potential for the mutual benefit and prosperity of the peoples of the two countries.

Reiterated strong condemnation of the heinous coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July 2016, paying rich tributes to the brave and resilient Turkish people who stood resolutely in defense of democracy against the forces of darkness.

Expressed firm resolve to continue their strong mutual support to each other on issues of core national interest, and in defense of the peace and prosperity of the two nations.

Expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved towards implementation of on-going projects under the framework of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), and reaffirmed the resolve to explore new avenues for collaboration in the forthcoming 5th Session of the HLSCC, to be held shortly in Turkey.

Agreed to further enhance collaboration in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, food processing and housing as priority sectors.

Appreciated the significant progress achieved so far towards concluding the comprehensive bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and decided to complete the negotiations process by the end of 2016.

Agreed to develop a comprehensive, long-term and forward-looking framework for defense cooperation between the two countries.

Decided to broaden the frequency and scope of bilateral consultations on Foreign Ministers as well as Foreign Secretaries levels and to expand these consultations to matters pertaining to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well.

Underscored the need for resolution of all outstanding differences between Pakistan and India, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through a sustained dialogue process and in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Expressed their deep concern about the increased tension and losses of innocent lives and casualties occurring recently in Jammu and Kashmir.

Applauded the resilience and perseverance of the peoples of the two countries as well as the sacrifices and bravery of the military and law enforcement personnel of both countries in the fight against the common threat posed by terrorism.

Noted with concern the trend towards exceptionalism and sidelining of non-proliferation objectives for commercial or political interests, which is detrimental to the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime and, in particular, to the strategic stability in South Asia.

Called upon the international community to combat Islamophobia, religious discrimination and stereotyping against Muslims.

Committed to commencing joint initiatives in the context at the international fora, in particular at the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and agreed that the assumption of Chair of OIC summit by the Republic of Turkey presented a valuable opportunity in this regard.

Reiterated the need for making the United Nations Security Council more representative, democratic, transparent, and accountable through comprehensive United Nations Security Council reform process, based on widest possible consensus and called for the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions to resolve the long-standing disputes on the agenda of the Security Council, especially those pertaining to the Muslim Ummah.

Urged the international community to play its due role in mobilizing support and assistance for the refugee hosting countries, including those facing protracted refugee situations and  agreed to proactively implement the decisions and agreements contained in this Joint Declaration, as well as the earlier Joint Declarations, at the highest level.

Text of Turkish President Erdogan’s address at Pakistani parliament’s joint session

ISLAMABAD: Following is the text of the address of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan  at the joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly here Thursday.

Text begins here: 

Honorable National Assembly Speaker,

Honorable Chairman of the Senate,

Esteemed Members of the National Assembly and Senate,

Dear brothers and sisters,

I would like to extend to you my most heartfelt greetings, affection, fondness and respect on behalf of myself, my delegation, my country and my people.

I brought wholehearted salaam to you from Turkey.

I once more present my affection, respect and fondness to all my Pakistani brothers and sisters through you.

During the visit in 2012, I was here with you again in a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate.

After a period of about four and a half years, I am glad to meet you again in this institution which is the symbol of national will.

Pakistan has become an important model for the Islamic world demonstrating that democracy may work through maintaining its values.

I also congratulate you for your success.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The relations between Turkey and Pakistan are of exclusive nature far beyond diplomatic contacts between two states.

We are two brotherly countries, not in words but in real meaning.

There is such a deep tie of friendship and affection between our peoples that we are happy with happiness of our Pakistani brothers and we are sad with their sadness.

We know that you also share similar feelings.

Our countries and peoples have acted with this understanding throughout the history.

Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi, who was born in this geography in a broad sense and spread his wisdom and knowledge from Anatolia to the world, is one of our common values.

No need to go farther, if we review the developments in the last century we can see the deepness of our friendship.

We have never forgotten and will not forget that thousands of our Pakistani brothers came to our help during the War of Dardanelles by taking the risk of very hard conditions.

We have always kept and will keep in our memory the support and solidarity displayed to us during our War of Liberation.

In the foundations of today’s Turkey, there are efforts and endeavours of many Pakistani heroes such as Abdurrahman Peshawari who came to help the Ottoman Empire during the Balkan War and then took part first in the War of Dardanelles and later in the War of Liberation and made great contributions to our country even after the proclamation of the Republic.

And Abdurrahman Peshawari is such a brother for us that when his mother sent him a message to return home, responded “I cannot return while Anatolia is under occupation”.

For us, there is no difference between Muhammed Ikbal and Mehmet Akif; both are the philosophers of our liberation and future.

We also never forgot and will not forget that our Pakistani brothers were the ones who offered the greatest support and assistance during the earthquake of 1999.

Pakistan declared a day of mourning after the mining disaster in Soma in 2014.

We also declared a day of mourning in Turkey, deeply feeling the pain caused by the terrorist attack which resulted in the loss of lives of tens of students in the public army school in December 2014, in Peshawar.

Our strong historical ties which always maintained its vitality, make Turkey and Pakistan exclusive to each other.

I hope, we will spread this spirit of solidarity and fraternity, Inshallah to the whole world together.

Honorable Speaker and Chairman of the Senate,

Distinguished Members of the Parliament,

I would like to especially point out that Pakistan was the first country to stand by Turkey with its state government, parliament and its people after the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey.

We appreciated the resolutions of support which were adopted unanimously by your parliament.

The support visit of the Pakistani delegation to Turkey in August, which comprised of deputies representing a broad political spectrum, contributed to our struggle against the terrorist organizations.

Pakistan, with its stance against the 15 July coup attempt, perpetrated by Fetullah Glen Terrorist Organization (FETO), showed that it also stood by the Turkish Nation in its second War of Liberation.

May Allah be pleased with you and forever maintain and preserve our solidarity.

I would like to express my thanks once again for your support.

On this occasion, I would like to state once again that FETO is a bloody terrorist organization posing a threat not only to Turkey but to all countries in which it operates.

I wholeheartedly believe that this terrorist organization will be eliminated as soon as possible without harming brotherly Pakistan.

I appreciate the recent decisions taken by the Pakistani Government in this direction, and I thank you for your strong support in our fight against FETO.

I believe that we should maintain and further enhance our cooperation and solidarity against terrorist organizations.

The terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida and its affiliate DAESH are the agents of the war carried out against Islam which are only and solely harming Muslims.

We should eliminate these bunches of killers, who have no other skill than to shed Muslims’ blood, from the Islamic world and from all over the world as soon as possible.

Otherwise, neither Turkey, nor Pakistan, nor the world of Islam, nor humankind will attain peace.

If we cannot overcome our problems hand in hand as believers of these holy religion, we cannot save Muslims from the pit of impunity that they have fallen into.

Islam is a religion of union and wahdat.

We are all proud of being members of this holy religion, whose greatest goal is to ensure goodness and to remove the evil on earth.

In other words, the condition to deserve the title of Muslim is to stand against all kinds of persecution, inequity and injustice wherever and by whoever it is perpetrated.

Only by doing this, we can be a good Ummah as the Almighty Allah commanded.

Terrorist organizations try to find a basis for themselves by provoking the divisions and differences among the Muslims.

In order to save the Muslims from this servile situation faced, we have to eradicate all means of exploitation from sectarianism to ethnic discrimination spreading among the Islamic nations.

We must fight together against those who are desiring to turn the Islamic World into a geography in which division, defeatism, instigation, hatred and ignorance prevail.

As it was uttered by Mohammad Iqbal;

If there is no unity in movement, unity in ideas is futile.

Turkey and Pakistan by their positions in their regions and their great civilization legacy, are two countries that have the potential to lead and to impel the world regarding this issue.

We take all risks on the issue and we do not refrain from any struggle.

We express the humanitarian crises in our region, unfairness and injustice in the world in every platform and we suggest solutions.

Our efforts are not just limited to these, we show our solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters through our humanitarian and development assistance projects, with political and military support when necessary.

We will continue our struggle until we succeed in preventing unjustly spilling of blood of any Muslim in the World.

We offer to you, our Pakistani brothers and sisters, to remove together the obstacles before the Islamic World all.

Honorable Speaker and Chairman of the Senate,

Esteemed Members of Parliaments,

The relations between our countries sharing common values, having ancient ties, supporting each other in regional and international issues, experienced a great breakthrough in recent years.

Mutual high level contacts greatly contribute to the development and thrive of our relations in every field.

In this regard, I would also like to express that inter-parliamentarian contacts play a critical role in strengthening the relations between the politicians and nations of the two countries.

I hope that we will continue the close dialogue established between the parliamentarians of the two countries, in the forthcoming period.

Similarly, we should strengthen our cooperation in the fields of trade and investment.

The High Level Strategic Cooperation Council established between Turkey and Pakistan in 2009 has brought an institutional framework for our relations.

We have come a long way in a short period of time by signing 51 agreements and documents within the Council so far.

However, we do not consider this sufficient.

Together, we should put into practice new projects and new partnerships which will provide employment for our people.

Turkey and Pakistan are two countries which have great potential.

We should not allow any obstacle to prevent us from using our capabilities completely.

We should resolutely maintain our existing cooperation in order to deepen our relations in developing investments, infrastructure projects, health and defense industry.

Besides, Turkey also supports its Pakistani brothers through development-oriented cooperation projects.

Lastly, our humanitarian relief institutions and the Red Crescent rapidly reached to Pakistan and displayed our traditional solidarity between our nations as it was the case in the major flood disaster in 2010.

On the other hand, through “Turkey Scholarships” granted for bachelor, master and doctorate degrees we bring the experiences of Pakistani students to Turkey and contribute to our Pakistani brothers in the field of qualified human resource.

I highly value the Memorandum of Understanding, which will be signed next month between the Council of Higher Education of Turkey and the Council of Higher Education of Pakistan, which will provide the opportunity for 500 Pakistani students to do their PhD in Turkey, each year.

The Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) carries out valuable projects with regard to the development assistance through its coordination office in Islamabad.

I hope that our joint projects in every field will also continue in the future.

Honorable Chairman of the Senate and Honorable Speaker,

Distinguished Members of the Parliament,

We attach importance to the development of cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan within the framework of their good neighborhood relations.

This cooperation is indispensable not only for peace and security of the region, but also for the economic potential of this geography and carrying out important infrastructure projects.

The Kashmir issue, which we follow carefully and could not have been solved for almost 70 years, continues to hurt our conscience.

The latest developments in Kashmir once again demonstrated the importance and the urgency of the solution of this problem.

We are aware of the distress and suffering of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

We are deeply concerned about the increase of the tension.

The international community should exert further efforts in order to solve this issue which has political and humanitarian dimensions, according to justice and law.

We wish that Pakistan and India taking and the consideration the demands of the Kashmiri people to find a solution to the Kashmir issue through direct dialogue.

Turkey stands ready to make any effort possible to this end.

As I conclude my speech, I would like to thank you once again for your hospitality.

I salute you and all Pakistani brothers and sisters once again warmly and respectfully.

May Allah bless and help you.

Allah Hafiz.

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

TURKI PAINDABAD

Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın Pakistan ziyareti

Türkiye Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Pakistan’ı Cumhurbaşkanı Mamnoon Hussain’in daveti üzerine 16-17 Kasım 2016 tarihlerinde ziyaret ediyor.  Türk Cumhurbaşkanı bir dizi durum için daha önce Pakistan’a gelmiş olsa bile bu onun görevi kabul ettiğinden beri Pakistan’la ilk ikili ziyareti olacaktır.

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan’a Bakanlar ve kıdemli yetkililer dahil olmak üzere yüksek düzeyde bir beraberindekiler heyetinin yanı sıra geniş bir iş adamları heyeti de eşlik edecektir.  Cumhurbaşkanı Mamnoon Hussain’i ziyaret etmenin yanı sıra Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan Başbakan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’le de görüşmelerde bulunacaktır.  İki lider arasındaki görüş alışverişi bütün ikili meselelerin yanı sıra bölgesel ve uluslararası meseleleri de kapsayacaktır.  Türk Cumhurbaşkanının aynı zamanda Parlamentonun Birleşik Oturumuna da hitap etmesi planlanmaktadır.  Pakistan Cumhurbaşkanı saygıdeğer misafiri ve beraberindekiler için resmi bir yemeğe ev sahipliği yapacaktır.  Cumhurbaşkanı aynı zamanda Lahor’u ziyaret edecek ve burada Pakistan Başbakanı kendisinin şerefine Shahi Fort’ta resmi bir yemek verecektir.

Pakistan ve Türkiye sıcaklık, yürekten bağlılık ve karşılıklı güvenle karakterize edilen örnek bir ilişkiyle birbirlerine bağlıdır.  Bunlar tarihin, ortak bir kaderin, kültürel ve dilsel yakınlıkların ve ortak bir gelecek hissinin derinliklerinde saklıdır.  Liderler ve Bakanlar düzeyindeki sık karşılıklı gidip gelmeler Pakistan ve Türkiye arasındaki benzersiz bağların ayırdedici özellikleridir.  Her iki ülkenin liderleri bu tarihi ilişkiyi 21. yüzyılın gerçekleriyle paralel olarak güçlü bir stratejik ortaklığa dönüştürmeye adanmıştır.  Liderler düzeyindeki Yüksek Düzeyde Stratejik İşbirliği Konseyi ve diğer ikili kurumsal mekanizmaların ev sahipliği daha sık görüş alışverişleri için etkili bir platform sağlar.

Pakistan ve Türkiye arasındaki ikili ilişkiler son yıllarda olağanüstü bir büyümeye ve dinamizme tanık olmuştur.  Her iki taraf kalıcı bir ekonomik ortaklık inşa etmek için gösterilen çabaların bir parçası olarak ikili ticarete, yatırıma ve ticari işbirliğine güçlü bir hamle kazandırmak için çalışmaktadır.

Her iki ülke de işbirliği yapmak ve birbirlerini bölgesel ve uluslararası forumlarda karşılıklı olarak desteklemek için çalışmaktadır.  Türkiye, ilgili BM kararlarına uygun olarak kendi kaderlerini belirleme hakları için verdikleri mücadelede İşgal Altındaki Cammu ve Keşmir halkını kararlılıkla desteklemiştir.  Kardeş Türkiye milleti Cammu ve Keşmir üzerindeki OIC Bağlantı Grubunun bir üyesi olarak çok önemli ve etkin bir rol oynamaktadır.  Meselelerin karşılıklı olmasının canlı bir yansıması olarak, Pakistan da Türkiye’yi Kıbrıs meselesinde desteklemektedir. 

Pakistan ve Türkiye liderleri insan çabalarının tüm alanlarında ikili ilişkileri daha da derinleştirmek ve güçlendirmek için güçlü bir şekilde bağlılıklarını sürdürmektedir.  Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan’ın ziyareti iki kardeş ülke arasındaki kalıcı ilişkiyi daha da sıkılaştırmaya oldukça fazla bir biçimde katkıda bulunacaktır.

İslamabad

14 Kasım 2016

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is visiting Pakistan on 16-17 November 2016 at the invitation of President Mamnoon Hussain. While the Turkish President has been to Pakistan on a number of occasions, this would be his first bilateral visit to Pakistan since assuming office.

President Erdogan will be accompanied by a high-level entourage, including Ministers and senior officials, as well as a large business delegation. Besides meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain, President Erdogan would be holding talks with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.  The exchange of views between the two leaders would cover the entire range of bilateral matters, as well as regional and international issues. The Turkish President is also scheduled to address the Joint Session of Parliament. The President would host a banquet in honour of the distinguished guest and his entourage. President Erdogan will also travel to Lahore, where the Prime Minister will host a banquet in his honour at the Shahi Fort.

Pakistan and Turkey are bound by an exemplary relationship characterized by warmth, cordiality and mutual trust. There are embedded deep in history, common faith, cultural and linguistic affinities and a sense of common destiny. Frequent exchanges at the leadership and Ministerial levels and growing cooperation in diverse fields are the hallmarks of the unique bonds between Pakistan and Turkey. The leadership of both countries is committed to transforming this historic relationship into a strong strategic partnership, in line with the realities of the 21^st century. High Level Strategic Cooperation Council at the leadership level and a host of other bilateral institutional mechanisms provide effective platform for frequent exchange of views.

Bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey have witnessed tremendous growth and dynamism in recent years. Both sides are working to give powerful thrust to bilateral trade, investment and commercial cooperation as part of the efforts to build a robust economic partnership.

Both countries closely collaborate with and mutually support each other at regional and international forums. Turkey has steadfastly supported the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in their just struggle for the right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. The friendly nation of Turkey plays a vital and active role as a member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. In a vivid reflection of mutuality of concerns, Pakistan supports Turkey on the Cyprus issue.

The leaderships in Pakistan and Turkey remain strongly committed to further deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship in all fields of human endeavour. President Erdogan’s visit would contribute substantially to further solidifying the abiding relationship between the two fraternal countries.

Islamabad

14 November, 2016

Pakistan Envoy presents Credentials to Kosovo President

ANKARA, 12 November 2016: In a simple and dignified ceremony at the President’s Office in Pristina, Ambassador of Pakistan Sohail Mahmood (resident in Ankara) presented credentials to the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Hashim Thaçi, on 11 November 2016. The shared commitment to comprehensively enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields was affirmed on the occasion.  

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood conveyed warm and cordial greetings of President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the leadership and brotherly people of Kosovo. He added that Pakistan supported all efforts to strengthen international engagement as well as progress and prosperity of Kosovo and was desirous of deepening bilateral collaboration through increased high-level contacts, frequent consultations, and regular interface at the business-to-business and people-to-people levels.

President Hashim Thaçi, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s continuous support to Kosovo and highlighted the assistance of Pakistan for the refugees during the Kosovo conflict in 1998-99. President Hashim Thaçi reaffirmed Kosovo’s commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, with a particular focus on economic collaboration.

Later, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood called on Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj and had a detailed exchange of views on bilateral relations and cooperation in multilateral fora. The two sides pledged to pursue initiatives for strengthening mutual collaboration in the diplomatic, political, trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people spheres. The resolve to expand bilateral cooperation by forging new legal frameworks and establishing necessary institutional mechanisms was affirmed. Views were also exchanged on regional and international issues as well as recent developments in the immediate neighbourhood of the two countries.

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood also had a separate meeting with Director General (Political Affairs) Ambassador Albert Prenkaj at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which ideas were exchanged on intensifying mutual collaboration in  the bilateral and multilateral context.  

Pakistan ve Türkiye sağlık sektöründeki deneyimlerini paylaşıyor, işbirliğini derinleştiriyor

ANKARA, 9 Kasım 2016: Türkiye Sağlık Bakanı Prof. Dr. Recep Akdağ Pencap Hükümetinden bir heyetle görüşürken Pakistan’ın ve Türkiye’nin birbirlerinin deneyimlerinden bir şeyler öğrenebileceğini ve sağlık sektörlerini daha da fazla dönüştürmek için en iyi deneyimlerini paylaşabileceğini söyledi.  Pencap Sağlık heyeti 6-13 Kasım 2016 tarihleri arasında Türkiye’ye bir çalışma ziyareti düzenlemektedir.

Bakan Recep Akdağ Pencap Hükümetine sağlık sektörü reformu inisiyatiflerini uygulaması için Türkiye’nin elinden gelebilecek olan tüm desteklerini sundu.  Birincil, ikincil ve üçüncül sağlık bakımlarında hizmetleri geliştirmek, aile sağlık sisteminin pilot tasarımı, hastalık erken uyarı sistemi, sağlık acil durum tepkileri ve hemşirelik ve ilk yardım ekiplerinin eğitimi gibi çeşitli alanlarda işbirliği imkanları tartışıldı.

Pakistan’ın Türkiye Büyükelçisi Sohail Mahmood ve Ankara’daki Büyükelçiliğin kıdemli çalışanları da bu toplantıya katıldılar.

Şu hatırlanabilir ki, Pencap Eyalet Başbakanı Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’in Ağustos 2016’da İstanbul’a yaptığı ziyaret sırasında Türkiye ve Pencap Hükümetleri sağlık sektöründe daha yakın işbirliği için bir Mutabakat Zaptı (MoU) imzalamışlardı.  Bunu takiben, iki taraf karşılıklı işbirliği alanlarını belirlemek ve yerinde pratik adımlar atmak için karşılıklı olarak uzman ve kıdemli yetkili ziyaretleri gerçekleştirmiştir. 

Pencap Heyetine Ek Baş Sekreter Khawaja Shamail Ahmad liderlik etmekteydi ve Pencap İl Genel Meclisi Üyeleri Dr. Nadia Naz ve Dr. Shabnam Sarfaraz,  Birincil ve İkincil Sağlık Bakımı Sekreteri Sayın Ali Jan Khan, Allama Iqbal Tıp Okulu Müdürü Dr. Mahmood Shaukat, (Sağlık) Planlama ve Geliştirme Bölümü Üyesi Dr. Shabana Haider, Pencap Acil Yardım Hizmetleri Genel Müdürü Dr. Rizwan Naseer ve Birincil ve İkincil Sağlık Bakımı Departmanı Sekreter Yardımcısı Dr. Yadullah heyette yer almaktaydı.. 

Pakistan and Turkey to share experiences, deepen collaboration in health sector

ANKARA, 9 November 2016: Minister for Health of Turkey Prof. Dr. Recep Akdağ while meeting with a delegation from the Government of Punjab said Pakistan and Turkey can learn from each other’s experiences and share best practices in order to further transform their health sectors. The Punjab Health delegation is on a study visit of Turkey from 6-13 November 2016.

Minister Recep Akdağ offered all possible support from Turkey for implementing health sector reform initiatives of the Government of Punjab. Possiblities of cooperation in diverse areas such as improving service delivery in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, pilot design of family health system, disease early warning system, health emergency response and nursing and paramedic education and training were discussed. 

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood and senior officers from the Embassy in Ankara were also present in the meeting.

It may be recalled that during the visit of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Istanbul in August 2016, the Governments of Turkey and Punjab had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for closer cooperation in the health sector. As a follow-up, both sides have exchanged visits of experts and senior officials for identifying areas of mutual collaboration and taking practical steps on the ground.

The Punjab delegation is led by Additional Chief Secretary Khawaja Shamail Ahmad and includes Members of Provincial Assembly of Punjab Dr. Nadia Naz and Dr. Shabnam Sarfaraz,  Secretary Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department Mr. Ali Jan Khan, Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College Dr. Mahmood Shaukat, Member (Health) Planning & Development Department Dr. Shabana Haider, Director General Punjab Emergency Services Dr. Rizwan Naseer, and Deputy Secretary Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department Dr. Yadullah.