Pakistan’s chief minister thanks Turkey for support

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Chief minister of Pakistan’s largest province has thanked the Turkish government for extending support to Pakistan at an international forum.

According to a statement issued by Punjab’s Chief Minister House, Shehbaz Sharif, who is also an acting president of ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group), met Turkish Ambassador to Islamabad Mustafa Yurdakul.

Last week in Paris, Turkey supported Pakistan in Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where the U.S. and U.K. moved to put Pakistan back on a list of countries which have failed to stem terrorist financing.

Sharif said Turkey has supported Pakistan not only at the international forums but also by providing cooperation in health, solid waste management and other sectors in the southeastern province.

“We are proud to have a brother country like Turkey, which always stands with us in good and bad times.

“Pakistan and Turkey are two countries but one nation and our people love each other, that’s the beauty of our relations,” the statement quoted Sharif as saying.

The Turkish envoy, for his part, congratulated Sharif for assuming the leadership of the ruling party and appreciated his role to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

“Pakistan is my second home. We will maintain close relationship with Pakistan to further enhance Pak-Turk relations," Yurdakul said.

He also thanked the Punjab government to provide all possible cooperation to the Turkish investors in Pakistan.