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

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 today.

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.

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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

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.

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.

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.

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

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Photo caption: A group photo of senior judicial officers from Pakistan with H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin at Ankara on 24 May 2011.

Pakistan Turkey trade to reach US$ 2 billion by 2012 - Envoy

ANKARA, 18 May 2011: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin in a meeting with a visiting delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) said efforts are underway to further boost existing annual bilateral trade between Turkey and Pakistan from the present US$997 million to US $ 2 billion by 2012.
The Ambassador informed that next session of Pakistan Turkey Joint Economic Commission will be held in Turkey that will help identify new projects for investment in Pakistan.
Led by Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, President FPCCI, the delegation attended 66th General Assembly of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) at Ankara besides visiting various industrial facilities and business meetings with their Turkish counterparts.
To give further momentum to growing economic ties between Pakistan and Turkey

, Senator Ghulam Ali in his interaction with the Turkish investors invited them to have joint ventures with Pakistani business houses. He said improved productivity, focus on enhancing the skills of the workforce, value addition, and quality control could boost Pakistan exports.

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Photo caption:
FPCCI President Senator Haji Ghulam Ali and other delegation members in a group photo with with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin at Ankara, Turkey

Pakistan Stall at Middle East Technical University's Spring Festival, 13 May 2011