| Business-savvy Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was elected only four months ago in a landslide general election victory, may be the best hope to make up for what has been lacking between Turkey and Pakistan, two close friends and allies in a tough neighborhood. | |
 That is the absence of a strong and sustainable trade and investment portfolio between the two. So far, successive governments on each side have unfortunately failed to realize much of the potential that exists in terms of trade, business and investment. I was encouraged to see that Mr. Sharif has really reflected on that shortcoming and he suggested means of overcoming it during an interview I had with him on the eve of his first visit to Turkey since the election.Mr. Sharif, the successful industrialist-turned-politician, won the popular vote in the May 11 elections and formed a government with the help of independents who joined his side. Though he served two non-consecutive terms in the 1990s for two years on each occasion, he faced constant political fighting amid military interference and judiciary activism. On the Turkish side, the 1990s were lost years as well, with political bickering that at its peak led to the forceful ouster of a democratically elected government by the military in 1997, the fourth time in the history of the Turkish Republic. This time, Mr. Sharif's conservative government may have found a better partner on the Turkish side, led by successful politician Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the center-right. In the interview, the Pakistani prime minister indicated that political relations between the two countries are excellent, to the extent that he did not hesitate to describe it with the “one nation, two states” formula. I was in Pakistan in the last couple of days to see that oft-cited remark come alive during friendly encounters in Islamabad, Lahore and Multan. I experienced my share from what he called “a huge reservoir of goodwill and affection that flows from one country to another.” Yet as Mr. Sharif rightly pointed out, we have a long way to go to translate these excellent political relations into a tangible and robust commercial and economic relationship. For that, I suppose we need to strive better with a fresh perspective. In fact, looking at Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) data, trade figures between Turkey and Pakistan have been, to my dismay, on a declining curve since 2011. The trade volume, which favors Pakistan, was $1.1 billion in 2011 before dropping to $831 million in 2012, a loss of almost a quarter of its 2011 value in one year. The declining curve is also true for the last seven months of the year, the latest available date from the government agency. Trade volume dropped by 16 percent in January-July data this year over the same period of last year, from $500 million to $420 million. It is clear that something must be done to stop the fall, let alone boost figures. With the relatively big size of their economies, Turkey and Pakistan ought to do much better, yet we struggle to keep our heads above water. Having set economic development as one of his government's priorities on his to-do list, Mr. Sharif has come to Turkey with a loaded agenda, accompanied by a business delegation to make a sales pitch on increasing trade and investment. He will use the intergovernmental meeting sort of half way through a joint cabinet gathering dubbed a high level council meeting as an opportunity to propose what he called “institutional mechanisms, which will provide a strong platform for further cementing economic ties.” If Mr. Sharif can deliver on that with the help of Turkish colleagues, then there may be hope. The fact that Mr. Sharif's party led Punjab (in fact, his brother is the chief minister) in delivering success stories such as the Metro Bus System and Solid Waste Management Project in Lahore and a wind energy project in Sindh, all built by Turkish companies, provides stimulus for our hopes to have stronger business ties. For me, I suppose the most significant remark he made during the interview was related to the emphasis on his government's number one priority, which is education. “Pakistan needs a new framework for social change to provide equal opportunities and social justice to everyone, eliminate exploitation of the poor and harness its human resource potential. With knowledge becoming the key driver of socio-economic development in the 21st century, education is our number one national priority,” Sharif explained. For that, he is looking to Turkey, among others and wants to transfer best practices and experiences in education to have Pakistani kids excel in technical skills and science. He knows that a quality education will lay the foundation to generate growth and job creation, while helping him and future Pakistani leaders fight all sorts of social and economic malaise. In fact, exchange and cooperation on education is exactly what is needed to realize many potential opportunities between the two countries, including but not limited to trade and investment. For that, we are blessed with the successful model presented by Pak-Turk schools serving different constituencies across Pakistan with a new vision and a fresh outlook. I visited these schools in both Islamabad and Lahore and even attended the bricklaying for the foundation of another one in Multan. With the enrollment of some 7,000 Pakistani students in 20 schools, these high-achieving schools are impressive monuments promising possibly the best hope to unleash the full potential between Turkey and Pakistan. The small community of Turkish and Pakistani educational volunteers now hopes to crown the achievement they made in the PreK-12 school system with the establishment of a new university soon. What Turkish entrepreneurs joined by Pakistani counterparts have accomplished is that they were able to create incubation centers for very talented new generations that speak the language and understand the culture of both countries. In every sense of the word, they have definitely strengthened people-to-people connections. The stories of Olympiad medal winners in science and other competitive fields that were on display in the hallways of each and every Pak-Turk school -- girls and boys alike -- is a testament to this major accomplishment that has obviously had the backing of successive Pakistani governments. While meeting with officials, including the education minister, at the personal residence of the Sharif family, Raiwind Palace, located in Jati Umra on the outskirts of Lahore, I sensed that both Mr. Sharif and his brother Shahbaz, the chief minister of Punjab, are particularly interested in seeing these schools flourish. There is no doubt that this education campaign has a trickle-down impact on lower income families as well, providing social mobility and empowering younger generations. For example, I was particularly impressed by the housing complex in the Multan area of Punjab province built by Kimse Yok Mu, a leading Turkish charity and relief organization, in cooperation with its German-Turkish counterpart, Time to Help. The $7 million model village, which has some 300 fully refurbished houses, is certainly just a beginning, because the devastating flood in 2010 affected at least 20 million Pakistanis, but it provided encouragement for local residents and offered a glimmer of hope for many others. More importantly, the village, named after the legendary Allama Mohammed Iqbal, has a modern school for the children of town residents, something the Turkish volunteers said they would run and invest in to empower the children in this impoverished region. The full return on investments in education is definitely not a short-term prospect but its positive results will be the most enduring if done correctly. In the Pakistani context, the cascading impact of educational investments by Turks has already been felt in a short span of the time. The endeavor has pushed some in the business community in Pakistan who originally came together on an education drive to set up business and trade advocacy groups as well. Many Turkish and Pakistani businesspeople have now established business associations in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore with the expectation of more to follow suit. There are already some 200 members in these associations that seek opportunities to enhance the trade and investment figures of Pakistan, with Turkey in particular and the world in general. Therefore, education, trade and development goals are closely linked to one another. They are also important for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and corruption. Well-educated Pakistani youth will be less prone to the exploitation of radical movements and less likely to fall into the trap of corruption. Sharif's government is very keen on education and plans to invest heavily in that area. Albeit at a small scale, Pak-Turk schools are making a difference on the ground and helping contribute to what Mr. Sharif intends to accomplish. Courtesy: Today's Zaman, 16 September 2013 http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=326539 |
Fresh momentum in Turkey-Pakistan ties by Abdullah Bozkurt - Today's Zaman
Prime Minister of Pakistan pays visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
ANKARA September 17, 2013: Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif laid floral wreath on the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In his remarks, the Prime Minister said, "It is a great honour for me to pay homage to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk –the father of modern Turkey. Ataturk’s visionary statesmanship united the Turkish nation and chartered the course of mode 
rnity and progress. Ataturk is revered in Pakistan as a truly great visionary leader.
Remarks by the Prime Minister on the conferment of Cumhuriyet Nishan by President Abdullah Gul, 17 September 2013- Ankara
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is indeed a great honour for me to have been bestowed with the “Jumhuriyet Nishan” by Your Excellency.
As a recipient of
At the same time, it is renewal of an abiding commitment, to work continuously and untiringly, towards exploring new vistas for cooperation between our two countries.
Excellency,
The significance of this graceful
ceremony goes beyond its symbolism. It is a testimony to the special and unique
nature of our relationship that thrives in the hearts of our two peoples, from
the heights of the Himalayas to the plains of
This relationship is, however, as much a
narrative of the past and the present as it is a promise of a great future for
two democracies, with a common outlook and shared perceptions.
I believe that through the holding of the
3rd Meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC), we are
taking concrete steps towards that end. I am confident that the wide-ranging
initiatives that will come under discussion later this evening will lay the
foundations for a dynamic and future oriented discourse to our strategic
relations.
In You, Excellency President Abdullah Gul
and Prime Minister Erdogan, we have sincere brothers and partners, who are
committed with equal zeal, to the promotion of Pakistan-Turkey relations.
I look forward to working closely with
the Turkish leadership in the days ahead, for the collective good of our two countries
and taking our relationship to great heights.
Long-live Pakistan-Turkey friendship
Sharif: Pakistan, Turkey need to boost trade, investment - Today's Zaman
16 September 2013 /ABDULLAH BOZKURT, ANKARA
On the Pakistani prime minister's landmark visit to Turkey, his first since assuming office in May, Nawaz Sharif vowed to put structures in place to boost trade and economic ties between what he described as “one nation, two states.”
He underlined the excellent political relations between the two countries: “A huge reservoir of goodwill and affection flows from one country to another.” Sharif lamented, however, that there is a long way to go to translate these excellent political relations into tangible and robust trade relations.
He called on Turkish businesspeople and entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan, especially in sectors like energy, infrastructure, engineering and agro-based industry. Citing recent success stories involving Turkish companies in Pakistan, like Lahore's Metro Bus System and a wind energy project in Sindh, Sharif called Pakistan an investor-friendly country that offers complete legal protection and fair treatment to both local and foreign companies.
Sharif is leading a large business delegation to Turkey
Sharif emphasized Turkey's role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, and Pakistan's potential to become a gateway to energy-rich Central Asia.
Education is the nation's top priority in ensuring equal opportunity and social justice, he said, adding that Turkish support and technical assistance in transforming Pakistan's education system would be welcome.
Here is the complete interview:
What has been the highlight of your visit to Turkey, and what is the overriding theme? How beneficial has the trilateral mechanism been so far? What are its challenges and shortcomings?
I am very pleased to be here in Turkey once again. As you are aware, relations between Pakistan and Turkey are exemplary. These feelings of affection and close affinity are shared on both sides between the people as well as the leaderships. My visit to Turkey soon after assuming office in May this year demonstrates the close cooperation between our two countries.
As my government takes on the multiple challenges facing Pakistan domestically and regionally, I have a broad agenda to discuss with Prime Minister Erdoğan. Primarily my visit coincides with the meeting of the Third High Level Cooperation Council where my Cabinet colleagues and senior officials will interact with their Turkish counterparts. I am also keen to interact with Turkish businessmen and investors.
Domestically, the priorities of my government include economic progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan. It also includes socioeconomic development, infrastructure development, education, especially technical and vocational training, etc. Pakistan and Turkey already have wide-ranging collaboration in these areas. I would like to see this cooperation strengthen further.
The Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey trilateral process is an important initiative aimed at promoting peace, stability and socioeconomic development in Afghanistan. We are grateful to Turkey for its continued support to the process that has now evolved into an institutionalized tripartite mechanism for multiple cooperation in diverse fields. Situation in Afghanistan, especially after the drawdown of troops in 2014, is a challenge for Pakistan and we would like to exchange views with our Turkish friends on this as well.
A ‘special’ relationship
What is unique about ties between Turkey and Pakistan? What can they do together in the heart of Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, which see a lot of crisis, conflict and instability?Pakistan and Turkey enjoy a “special relationship,” that predates independence of both states and has few parallels in inter-state relations. These friendly ties are deeply embedded in our shared history and common cultural ethos. After independence also, the national political history of both countries share many parallels. Physically we may live thousands of miles apart but our hearts beat together and we are truly one nation, two states.
The unique geographical situation of both Turkey and Pakistan make them strategically important. While Turkey could become a bridge between Asia and Europe, Pakistan shares boundaries with two highly populated and big economies of the world and could be a gateway to the energy rich Central Asia.
How do you assess the level of bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan? On both sides, political relations are deemed to be excellent, and cultural and educational ties are strong, yet this does not translate into high trade and investment volumes. Why?
As you rightly said, our political relations are excellent. A huge reservoir of goodwill and affection flows from one country to another. However, we have a long way to go to translate these excellent political relations into tangible and robust commercial and economic relationship. For this reason, my visit is aimed at putting in place institutional mechanisms, which will provide a strong platform for further cementing economic ties.
Talking to the Taliban
You have announced that your government is willing to talk with the Taliban to end the bloodshed in your next-door neighbor and curb the terrorism that has taken a toll on your nation. Do you think Turkey would be a good venue for those talks as well as internal reconciliation talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government?Peace and stability in Afghanistan is directly linked with peace and stability in Pakistan. My government would continue to extend our sincere support for the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. In that regard, whatever steps that we deem as helpful will be taken. We are hopeful that with international community's support that includes Turkish support, all state institutions in Afghanistan would be in a position to take full control of the country's governance by 2014. We also hope that international community will continue to remain engaged and fulfill its commitments for the development of Afghanistan beyond 2014.
There has been increasing tension recently in the Kashmir region and there are reports that India may be trying to exploit Middle Eastern turmoil for its own advantage and making moves to raise the stakes in Kashmir. How concerned is your government about the escalation of tension there? What, do you think, can Turkey do to help ease the tension?
Jammu and Kashmir dispute is the longest-outstanding issue on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. UN Security Council resolutions provide for holding of a fair and impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir under UN auspices to enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their right of self-determination. I hope that UN will play its due role in resolving this dispute. Recent tensions along the Line of Control are indeed a matter of concern for us. Pakistan will continue to respond to the situation with restraint and responsibility. I renew Pakistan's commitment to a serious, sustained and constructive engagement with India that must include the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
In order to relieve the people of India and Pakistan from poverty and illiteracy, it is incumbent on the leadership of both the countries to sit together and ponder over these issues. I have always given high priority to good relations with India for the sake of durable peace in the region.
Are you concerned with or encouraged by the developing ties between Turkey and India? Do you think Turkey has softened its policy with regard to Kashmir in order to protect its ties with India?
Turkey is a trusted friend of Pakistan. Turkey, like any other sovereign country, is free to forge relations with other countries, including India, according to its own national interest. Pakistan has always supported Turkish stance on the Cyprus issue and we are confident that Turkey will continue to support Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir issue.
Dealing with the menace of terrorism
As the new prime minister of Pakistan, will you be making policy adjustments to address the terror threat leveled at your people? As you know, terrorists get funding, arms and indoctrination from state and non-state actors abroad, some in the immediate neighborhood of Pakistan and others in distant regions. What would be your message, and your policy to crack down on these support networks that are hurting your country?The menace of terrorism in our region is the outcome of wrong policies in the past. Our challenge is to root out this menace from our midst. Pakistan needs the cooperation and support of international community and our neighbors for controlling funding, supply of arms and training to the terror networks.
Soon after assuming office, I invited all political parties in the country to cooperate with the government in collectively addressing the problems facing the country. This offer of mutual consultation and reconciliation is not limited to political parties only. We are ready to hold dialogue with those who are ready to shun extremism. We have more than one option to deal with terrorists, but shall use force only as a last option as we want to avoid further loss of innocent lives.
The US drone strikes counterproductive
Pakistan is said to be isolated, left alone to deal with its terror problem by its Western allies, especially the US. Drone attacks by the US have actually exacerbated the terror problem in your country. What would be your government's policy to deal with the US in particular and the West in general?As I said, sincere cooperation from the international community, neighboring as well as friendly countries is essential to counter terrorism. Terrorism knows no borders and curbing it is a global challenge. Pakistan and the international community, including the United States, have a shared interest in curbing terrorism. The US strategy of using drone strikes in Pakistan against terrorists not only violate our sovereignty and international law but are also counterproductive and causes further radicalization in the society. These strikes undermine our collective efforts to counter extremism and terrorism. We hope that there is a rethink in the US about the utility of the drone strikes.
Do you feel your country needs a new educational reform to address the radicalization of the youth? If so, what are the main parameters for that reform, and are you seeking help from your friends like Turkey in sharing best practices and transferring expertise?
Pakistan needs a new framework for social change to provide equal opportunities and social justice to everyone, eliminate exploitation of the poor and harness its human resource potential. With knowledge becoming the key driver of socioeconomic development in the 21st century, education is our number one national priority. We are aligning our policies and strategies to allocate adequate financial resources, initiate institutional reforms, monitor effective implementation of policies and enforce an effective external monitoring and evaluation system.
Pakistan would welcome technical assistance and support of Turkey in transforming our education system.
Is there any specific message you would like us to convey to our Turkish readers?
Pakistan has liberalized its economy and is successfully marching towards market economy. Our private sector has assumed the role of front-line player in the economic field. We are an investor-friendly country and offer equal treatment to local and foreign investors. All sectors are open for foreign investment under complete legal protection. Foreign companies can start their business on 100 percent equity basis. We would therefore like the support and involvement of Turkish businessmen and entrepreneurs in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, engineering, agro-based industry, etc. Recent successful Turkish projects of Metro Bus System and Solid Waste Management Project in Lahore, wind energy project by Zorlu Energy in Sindh and many more projects in the infrastructure sector are working successfully.
Courtesy
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-326527-sharif-pakistan-turkey-need-to-boost-trade-investment.html
Pakistan'da barış rüzgarı - Yeni Safek 16-9-2013
Sancılı geçen darbe ve koalisyon dönemlerini geride bırakan Pakistan İslam Cumhuriyeti, üç ay önce iktidara gelen Başbakan Navaz Şerif'in başlattığı ekonomik atılımlar ve siyasi barış girişimleriyle adından söz ettiriyor. Ülke içinde birliği ve dirliği sağlamak için harekete geçen Şerif, Türkiye'nin başarı hikayesini yakından izliyor.
YAKUP KOCAMAN / İSLAMABAD | 14 EYLÜL 2013, 23:05
YAKUP KOCAMAN / İSLAMABAD | 14 EYLÜL 2013, 23:05
Pakistan Başbakanı Navaz Şerif'in davetlisi olarak
gittiğimiz iki günlük Pakistan ziyaretinde Türkiye heyetine Çevre ve Şehircilik
Bakanı Erdoğan Bayraktar liderlik ediyor. Pakistan büyükelçimiz Mustafa Babür
Hızlan'ın da İslamabad'tan katıldığı grupta, İstanbul milletvekili Osman Aşkın
Bak, Başbakanlık Müşaviri Hasan Albayrak, TOKİ Başkan Yardımcısı Ahmet Şahin ve
Bakanlık bürokratları, Pakistan'da ulaşım, inşaat ve atık yönetimi alanındaki
yatırımları ile faaliyet gösteren Albayrak Holding'in Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı
Ahmet Albayrak ve Yönetim Kurulu Başkan Vekili Nuri Albayrak bulunuyor.
HALK 'TEK BAŞINA
İKTİDAR' DEDİ
Ülkenin 65 yıllık tarihinde bir siyasi partinin 5 yıllık
iktidarını ilk kez bir erken seçim veya darbe olmadan tamamladığı Pakistan'da,
Mayıs'ta yapılan genel seçimlerde Müslim Lig partisinin lideri Navaz Şerif, tek
başına iktidar oldu. Türkiye'de siyasete müdahalelerin yaşandığı 90'lı yılları
hatırlatırcasına, Pakistan'da 1990-1993 ve 1997-1999 dönemlerinde iki kez
Başbakanlık yapan Şerif'in önü, birincisinde adli müdahale yoluyla, ikincisinde
de eski Genelkurmay Başkanı ve eski Cumhurbaşkanı Pervez Müşerref'in yaptığı
askeri darbe nedeniyle kesilmişti.
FAKİRLİĞE SAVAŞ AÇTI
Demokrasi yarışından kopmayan Nawaz Şerif'i 14 yıl aradan
sonra iktidara getiren dinamiklerin, Pakistan halkının ekonomik ve siyasi
uyanışıyla aynı zamana denk gelmesi hiç de şaşırtıcı değil. Gelir dağılımındaki
adaletsizliğe bakmak yeterli. Nüfusun 190 milyona ulaştığı Pakistan'da 40
milyon insan fakirlik sınırının altında yaşıyor. Alt orta gelire sahip 100
milyon fakirin bulunduğu ülkede orta direk denilen kesim yok denilecek kadar az.
Nüfusun 25 milyonu orta üst gelir grubunda yaşarken, ülke kaynaklarından
oransal olarak en büyük payı 15 milyonluk zengin kesim alıyor. Ekonomide acil
iyileştirme paketi hazırlayan Şerif, ülkeye yabancı yatırımcıları da çekmeyi
amaçlayan bir dizi yeniliği hayata geçirmeye hazırlanıyor.
DARBELER SON BULMALI
1612'den 1947'ye kadar 335 yıl süren İngiliz kolonyalizminin
Müslüman toplum hafızasında meydana getirdiği ekonomik, siyasi ve psikolojik
travmaları geride kalan 65 özgür yılda atlatmak için çok çabalayan Pakistan
halkı, açık ki artık darbelerle ve müdahalelerle anılmak istemiyor. Ancak,
henüz 5 yıl öncesine dek, ülkenin siyasi hayatına demokratik olmayan yollarla
müdahale etmekten maalesef çekinmeyen askeri ve adli bürokrasi, basından da
aldığı destekle 'vesayetçi yapı'yı öncelemeye devam ettiği gözleniyor.
Pakistan'ın İngilizce yayınlanan gazetelerinin pek çoğunun Navaz Şerif'in
izlediği barışçı politikaya destek vermekte ayak sürüdüğüne şahit olmak nedense
bize hiç de yabancı gelmiyor.
Türk yatırımcılar
güven verdi
Pakistan Başbakanı Navaz Şerif ve Pencap Eyaleti Başbakanı
Şahbaz Şerif ile yapılan görüşmelerde Türk heyeti, Türkiye'nin gayrimenkul
gelişim hikayesini birinci ağızlardan anlattı. Ülke genelinde 5 yılda 500 bin
konut üretmeyi hedefleyen Navaz Şerif Bakan Bayraktar'a TOKİ'nin gelir paylaşım
modeliyle ilgili detaylı sorular sorarken, 9 milyon nüfuslu Lahor'da kentsel
dönüşüm hamlesi gerçekleştirmek isteyen Şahbaz Şerif de Türkiye'nin dönüşüm
tecrübesini, gayrimenkul sektörünün deneyimli işadamlarından ve devlet
yetkililerinden dinledi. Şahbaz Şerif, Pakistan'daki Türk yatırımcıların ve
çalışanlarının ülke ekonomisi için fedakarca çalışmasından övgüyle söz etti.
Hedefi birlik ve
dirlik inşa etmek
Güneyde ve Kuzeybatı'da mafya gruplarıyla ve yerel silahlı
kabilelerle müzakereye ve beraberinde çetin bir mücadeleye girişen Navaz Şerif,
ülkede barış ikliminin oluşması için diyalogu önceleyen bir politika izliyor.
Bunun için meclisteki tüm partilerden üyelerin yer aldığı Tüm Partiler
Kongresi'ni (All Party Congress) kuran Şerif, kuzeybatıdaki Peştun bölgesinde
Pakistan Talibanı olarak adlandırılan gruplarla barış görüşmeleri yürütmeye
başladı. Pakistan ordusunun 5 bin kayıp vermesine yol açmış olan bu bölgede
barış kolay değil. Yerel grupları ikna etmek bir yana, Pakistan Ordusu
generallerinin sivil iradenin Afganistan-Hindistan eksenli barış inisiyatifine
açıkça tepki koyan bildirilerinin Pakistan gazetelerinin sayfa manşetlerinde
yer bulması da işin zorlukları arasında.
Navaz Şerif, içeride terörü bitirmek ve komşularla barış
tesis etmek için kolları sıvadı. Afganistan Talibanı'nın dört kurucusundan biri
olan Molla Baradah'ı yıllardır tutuklu bulunduğu Pakistan'da bu ay içinde
serbest bırakması beklenen Şerif, Afganistan'la yeni bir dönem başlatacak.
Halkın sıcak baktığı bu sivil inisiyatife kurulu yapının itiraz etmesi barışı
zorlaştırıyor. İktidarının ikinci ayında Hindistan ile yaşanan Keşmir sorununu
çözmek için de cesur adımlar atarak eski algıya meydan okuyan Şerif, Çin ile
sürdürülen iyi ilişkileri pekiştirmek amacıyla ilk resmi ziyaretini Pekin'e
yaptı.
Navaz Şerif 16-19 Eylül tarihleri arasında Türkiye'ye
ziyarette bulunacak. Şerif, Cumhurbaşkanı Abdullah Gül ve Başbakan Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan ile görüşecek.
Karaçi'de ticaretin
önü açılacak
Navaz Şerif, Karaçi merkezli Sind eyaletinde izinsiz
silahlanma ve uyuşturucu kaçakçılığıyla suçlanan Muttehida Kavmi Hareketi'nin
yasal sınırlar içine girmesi için yoğun çaba sarfediyor. Pakistan ihracatı ve
ithalatı için hayati önem taşıyan Karaçi gümrüğü çalışanlarının bir aydır grev
yapmasının ardında bu hareketin talimatının etkili olduğu belirtiliyor.
Sorunların aşılmasının ardından Karaçi'de ticaretin hızlanması bekleniyor.
Pakistan Borsası
Navaz'la coştu
Navaz Şerif'in adaylığını ilan ettiği 2013 başından itibaren
sürekli değer kazanan Pakistan Borsası, yılbaşından bu yana yüzde 43, genel
seçimlerin yapıldığı Mayıs'tan bu yana ise yüzde 23'lük bir yükseliş kaydetti.
FED'in gelişmekte olan ülke borsalarını olumsuz etkilediği şok dalgasının
etkilenmediği ülke borsasındaki hızlı artış, Şerif'in atılımlarının yatırım
iklimine pozitif yansıdığının göstergesi olmaya devam ediyor.
http://yenisafak.com.tr/ekonomi-haber/pakistanda-baris-ruzgari-15.09.2013-564523
http://yenisafak.com.tr/ekonomi-haber/pakistanda-baris-ruzgari-15.09.2013-564523
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrives in Ankara, Turkey
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived at Ankara, Turkey today on three days official visit. Turkish Minister for Urban Planning & Development Mr. Erdogan Bayraktar received him while senior political, civil and military officials of Turkey were also present at the airport.
In his brief interaction with the Turkish officials at the airport, the Prime Minister reiterated exemplary brotherhood between the people of Turkey and Pakistan. He said that “we came to Turkey with a large agenda for developmental cooperation which we will discuss with the Turkish leadership”.
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that the cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan will reduce our international dependency. “I am looking towards enhanced cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, infrastructure, education, and security”, he added.
The Prime Minister said that there is great potential for the two brotherly countries to learn from each other’s expertise. He said that “I am happy to notice the fast socio economic development in Turkey which it has achieved during the last two decades”. He further said that his Government has the same agenda for the people of Pakistan.
Minister for Finance Mr. Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Mr. Tariq Fatemi while other cabinet ministers including Minister for Commerce Mr. Khurrum Dastagir, Minister for Housing Barristar Usman Ibrahim are also accompanying the Prime Minister.
Pakistani Prime Minister due in Turkey next week - Pakistan Başbakanı önümüzdeki hafta Türkiye’ye geliyor
The Prime Minister will meet the
Turkish President H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül as well as Prime Minister H.E. Mr.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two Prime Ministers will co-chair the third meeting
of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) in Ankara . The HLCC provides a unique platform
to give a long-term strategic direction to bilateral relations between the two
brotherly countries of Pakistan
and Turkey .
In order to further enhance
relations in all fields specially in the economic and commercial spheres, the
two countries are likely to sign several agreements/MoUs. Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif will have a site visit of an award winning low-cost housing project in
On 18th September, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif will proceed to Istanbul
where he will address a large Business Forum. He will also have separate
individual meetings with leading Turkish CEOs and investors.
Başbakan, Türk Cumhurbaşkanı Sayın Abdullah Gül ve
Başbakan Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ile toplantılar yapacaktır. İki ülkenin
başbakanları, Ankara’da düzenlenecek olan Üst Düzey İşbirliği Konseyi’nin
toplantısına birlikte katılacaktır. Üst Düzey İşbirliği Konseyi, iki kardeş
ülke olan Pakistan
Özellikle ekonomik ve ticari alanda şu anda mevcut olan
ilişkilerin daha fazla geliştirilebilmesi adına iki ülke çeşitli anlaşmalar
imzalamayı planlamaktadırlar. Başbakan Sayın Navaz Şerif toplumun gelir düzeyi
düşük kesimleri için inşa edilmiş, düşük maliyetli ve ödül sahibi toplu konut
projesini yerinde ziyaret edecektir.
Pakistan Başbakanı Sayın Navaz Şerif 18 Eylül günü
İstanbul’a giderek, geniş çaplı bir İş Forumu’na katılacaktır. Kendisi ayrıca
üst düzey Türk CEO’ları ve yatırımcılarla görüşmelerde bulunacaktır.
Pakistan Başbakanı’nın Türkiye ziyareti enerji, düşük
maliyetli konut yapımı, altyapı geliştirme ve belediyecilik hizmetleri
konularında Türkiye’yle yürütülen önemli projelerin bir sonucudur.
Türk Başbakanı Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın halk odaklı
yürüttüğü hükümet politikalarından ilham alan Başbakan Navaz Şerif yönetiminde
ki Pakistan Hükümeti, Türk ortaklarıyla birlikte özel sektörde dahil olmakla
birlikte daha birçok projeyi hayata geçirmeyi planlamaktadır.
Prime Minister of Pakistan meets delegation of Housing Development Administration of Turkey
ISLAMABAD, 11 September 2013:
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that his Government has identified housing as a priority area and is therefore planning to provide 500,000 units during the next five years to overcome the housing shortfall. He added that his government’s “Mera Ghar” or "My Home" scheme introduced in 1997 was a move to provide this basic necessity to lower and lower middle class families.
The Prime Minister said this while meeting a delegation of the Turkish Housing Authority led by H.E. Erdogan Bayraktar, Minister for Environment and Urbanization, Government of the Republic f Turkey. Minister Finance Mr. Ishaq Dar, Mr. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, Minister of State for Housing Barrister Usman Ibrahim, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Mr. Tariq Fatemi also attended the meeting.
The Premier expressed the confidence to take the bilateral relations with Turkey to new heights and work for promoting and strengthening the economic and trade relations. He said that his government would benefit from Turkey’s Mass Housing Program wherein low cost housing facility for the poor families could be provided.
The Prime Minister was briefed by the Turkish delegation that Turkey has devised a revenue sharing model according to which 15 % of their housing stock is diverted towards “Revenue Generation” and the remaining 85% towards “Social Housing”. The “Social Housing” scheme comprises of two main components wherein firstly; the land is provided by the government and secondly; a flexible payment schedule is offered according to affordability.
"We will study the financial model and visit on ground the housing schemes developed in rural and urban areas in Turkey during my forthcoming visit”, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister thanked the Turkish Delegation and said that he is looking forward to the upcoming visit to Turkey where Pak-Turkey bilateral relations would further strengthen.
Senior officials of the Prime Minster’s Office, Turkish Government and Government of Punjab also attended the meeting.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that his Government has identified housing as a priority area and is therefore planning to provide 500,000 units during the next five years to overcome the housing shortfall. He added that his government’s “Mera Ghar” or "My Home" scheme introduced in 1997 was a move to provide this basic necessity to lower and lower middle class families.
The Prime Minister said this while meeting a delegation of the Turkish Housing Authority led by H.E. Erdogan Bayraktar, Minister for Environment and Urbanization, Government of the Republic f Turkey. Minister Finance Mr. Ishaq Dar, Mr. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, Minister of State for Housing Barrister Usman Ibrahim, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Mr. Tariq Fatemi also attended the meeting.
The Prime Minister was briefed by the Turkish delegation that Turkey has devised a revenue sharing model according to which 15 % of their housing stock is diverted towards “Revenue Generation” and the remaining 85% towards “Social Housing”. The “Social Housing” scheme comprises of two main components wherein firstly; the land is provided by the government and secondly; a flexible payment schedule is offered according to affordability.
"We will study the financial model and visit on ground the housing schemes developed in rural and urban areas in Turkey during my forthcoming visit”, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister thanked the Turkish Delegation and said that he is looking forward to the upcoming visit to Turkey where Pak-Turkey bilateral relations would further strengthen.
Senior officials of the Prime Minster’s Office, Turkish Government and Government of Punjab also attended the meeting.
Turkish investment in Pakistan’s energy sector assured
Mr. Haroon Shaukat recalled the recent successful “Pakistan
Energy Forum” which the Pakistan Embassy organized in Istanbul Pakistan briefed the leading Turkish energy
sector executives about the huge energy market in Pakistan
and the incentives offered by Pakistan
Economic cooperation to top agenda on Pakistani PM's Turkey visit - Today's Zaman
1 September 2013 /NESİBE HİCRET SOY, ANKARA
At the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the newly elected Sharif is scheduled to visit Turkey Sept. 16-18 for talks aimed at enhancing economic ties between Turkey and Pakistan.
A senior Pakistani diplomat told Sunday's Zaman that Turkey and Pakistan are focusing on putting in place institutional mechanisms, such as signing a comprehensive preferential trade agreement (PTA) and a Treaty on Protection of Investment, which will guarantee that economic ties achieve new heights.
“It is the strong desire of the new government to forge a strong strategic partnership with Turkey and especially to bring a qualitative and quantitative change in our economic and commercial relations,” the diplomat said.
During the visit, Sharif will co-chair the 3rd High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting with Erdoğan, at which cabinet ministers and senior officials from both Turkey and Pakistan will also be present.
Turkey is the second country after China that Sharif has selected for an official overseas trip. On his China visit, the countries signed agreements in the energy and infrastructure fields worth billions of dollars.
Adem Kula, a coordinator with the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), told Sunday's Zaman that the new government in Pakistan will have even closer relationships with Turkey compared to previous governments. “Cooperation in energy projects between the two countries will be an important part of the meetings,” Kula added.
In the election held in May, the people of Pakistan elected Sharif, who was deposed in a military coup in 1999, as prime minister, marking the first civilian transfer of power in a country that has undergone three military coups.
Even though Turkey-Pakistan relations are evaluated as fraternal by observers, it seems that both countries have to go a long way to transform their commercial relations. Bilateral trade surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2011, but there is room to increase economic ties even further. The trade volume slightly decreased in 2012 compared to the previous year.
Prior to Sharif's visit, on Sept. 6 the Turkish-Pakistani Mining and Energy Conference will be held in Turkey with the participation of senior officials from both countries. There will also be a round of talks on the PTA in the second week of September, which is later expected to be finalized between Turkey and Pakistan.
The two countries have been in negotiations to conclude a comprehensive PTA and are currently discussing which sectors should be included in such an agreement. As Pakistan does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU, the two countries could not sign an FTA, as Turkey is a signatory to the customs union agreement with the EU.
Despite having significant natural resources and a large workforce, Pakistan has had 12 to 16-hour electricity blackouts each day in the summers of the last three years; thus, industrial production has plummeted to record lows.
Turkey would like to boost its relationship with Pakistan in the economic, social, political and trade areas. The success of recent projects, such as the Metro Bus and Solid Waste Management projects in Lahore, wind energy in Sindh and numerous reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in earthquake and flood-affected areas provide a solid foundation to further enhance this cooperation in diverse fields.
Turkey and Pakistan have increased mutual cooperation since the establishment of the HLCC at the prime ministerial level in October 2009. The two countries finalized a currency swap agreement (CSA) in November 2011, allowing them to trade in their own currencies.
During the last annual meeting of the HLCC in May 2012, a Turkish delegation headed by Prime Minister Erdoğan signed nine protocols and a joint declaration that aimed to bring a new momentum to Turkish-Pakistani relations by enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, transportation and tourism.
Pakistan and Turkey have also increased their cooperation in terms of transportation. The Gül Train project, which is a railroad project connecting İstanbul-Tehran-Islamabad, was launched in August 2009. A logistics company had been established under the aegis of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) to operate the container train service.
Courtesy: Today's Zaman http://www.todayszaman.com/news-324932-economic-cooperation-to-top-agenda-on-pakistani-pms-turkey-visit.html
Economic cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan, two friendly countries, is set to be a priority during Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif's upcoming visit to Turkey in September.
A senior Pakistani diplomat told Sunday's Zaman that Turkey and Pakistan are focusing on putting in place institutional mechanisms, such as signing a comprehensive preferential trade agreement (PTA) and a Treaty on Protection of Investment, which will guarantee that economic ties achieve new heights.
“It is the strong desire of the new government to forge a strong strategic partnership with Turkey and especially to bring a qualitative and quantitative change in our economic and commercial relations,” the diplomat said.
During the visit, Sharif will co-chair the 3rd High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting with Erdoğan, at which cabinet ministers and senior officials from both Turkey and Pakistan will also be present.
Turkey is the second country after China that Sharif has selected for an official overseas trip. On his China visit, the countries signed agreements in the energy and infrastructure fields worth billions of dollars.
Adem Kula, a coordinator with the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), told Sunday's Zaman that the new government in Pakistan will have even closer relationships with Turkey compared to previous governments. “Cooperation in energy projects between the two countries will be an important part of the meetings,” Kula added.
In the election held in May, the people of Pakistan elected Sharif, who was deposed in a military coup in 1999, as prime minister, marking the first civilian transfer of power in a country that has undergone three military coups.
Even though Turkey-Pakistan relations are evaluated as fraternal by observers, it seems that both countries have to go a long way to transform their commercial relations. Bilateral trade surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2011, but there is room to increase economic ties even further. The trade volume slightly decreased in 2012 compared to the previous year.
Prior to Sharif's visit, on Sept. 6 the Turkish-Pakistani Mining and Energy Conference will be held in Turkey with the participation of senior officials from both countries. There will also be a round of talks on the PTA in the second week of September, which is later expected to be finalized between Turkey and Pakistan.
The two countries have been in negotiations to conclude a comprehensive PTA and are currently discussing which sectors should be included in such an agreement. As Pakistan does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU, the two countries could not sign an FTA, as Turkey is a signatory to the customs union agreement with the EU.
Despite having significant natural resources and a large workforce, Pakistan has had 12 to 16-hour electricity blackouts each day in the summers of the last three years; thus, industrial production has plummeted to record lows.
Turkey would like to boost its relationship with Pakistan in the economic, social, political and trade areas. The success of recent projects, such as the Metro Bus and Solid Waste Management projects in Lahore, wind energy in Sindh and numerous reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in earthquake and flood-affected areas provide a solid foundation to further enhance this cooperation in diverse fields.
Turkey and Pakistan have increased mutual cooperation since the establishment of the HLCC at the prime ministerial level in October 2009. The two countries finalized a currency swap agreement (CSA) in November 2011, allowing them to trade in their own currencies.
During the last annual meeting of the HLCC in May 2012, a Turkish delegation headed by Prime Minister Erdoğan signed nine protocols and a joint declaration that aimed to bring a new momentum to Turkish-Pakistani relations by enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, transportation and tourism.
Pakistan and Turkey have also increased their cooperation in terms of transportation. The Gül Train project, which is a railroad project connecting İstanbul-Tehran-Islamabad, was launched in August 2009. A logistics company had been established under the aegis of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) to operate the container train service.
Courtesy: Today's Zaman http://www.todayszaman.com/news-324932-economic-cooperation-to-top-agenda-on-pakistani-pms-turkey-visit.html
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