Turkish Forum

Category: Pakistan

  • Istanbul mayor arrives to warm welcome

    Istanbul mayor arrives to warm welcome

    Inaugurates new waste management system, hails Lahore as second home.

    LAHORE:

    The Mayor of Istanbul Dr Kadir Tobpas was given a warm welcome here on Sunday as he arrived for a two-day visit to inaugurate waste management and bus transport projects that are being conducted in collaboration with Turkish companies.

    Addressing the inauguration ceremony for the new solid waste management system at the Town Hall, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he hoped that the new system would revive Lahore’s beauty and that it could later be introduced in other cities

    He said that the same model would be replicated in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Peshawar and Karachi and scores of clean cities like Istanbul would emerge in Pakistan.

    Dr Tobpas said that the project would give Lahore a clean environment and a healthy atmosphere. He said that the projects with the Punjab government were not commercial ventures but aimed at serving the Pakistani people. That was why the Turkish companies had reduced the cost of the project, he said.

    He said that Istanbul produces 15,000 tonnes of garbage a day which it recycles or uses to produce electricity. He said that Istanbul was cleaner than New York.

    Dr Tophas drove a cleaning truck, with the chief minister in the passenger seat, after cutting a ribbon to inaugurate the project. He earlier also inaugurated a monument at Istanbul Chowk in front of Town Hall, and is to inaugurate the Bus Rapid Transit system as well as a replica of the Blue Mosque dome in Valencia Town.

    The chief minister said that this was the first comprehensive solid waste management project in Pakistan. He said Lahore produced more than 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day.

    Sharif said that during his first term as chief minister in 1998, he had made plans with a French company for a solid waste management system, but his government was toppled and the project was shelved.

    He said that he was pleased to see this project inaugurated 13 years later with the cooperation of the brotherly Islamic country of Turkey. He said that Pakistan and Turkey had forged strong bonds and that was why the Turkish companies involved in the project had reduced their costs. He said that when they had conducted a survey in Lahore 18 months ago of the facilities needed, they had charged the government a tenth of what they would normally charge on international tenders.

    Earlier, the Istanbul mayor was welcomed upon his arrival at the airport by the chief minister. Sharif said that the visit would promote trade as well as brotherly relations between the two countries. Dr Topbas said Pakistan was his second home and he was very pleased to be in Lahore.

    A Punjab Police contingent presented a guard of honour to Dr Topbas at the airport. The national anthems of Turkey and Pakistan were played while people shouted slogans for Pak-Turk friendship. The government brought in 225 folk dancers from Jhang to perform at 14 different points along the route.

    Portraits of the president and prime minister of Turkey, the mayor of Istanbul, Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were displayed on main roads all over the city.

    The mayor also visited a special exhibition on Turkey arranged by the Information and Culture Departments at the Lahore Museum. Members of the Turkish media in his entourage went on a shopping trip to Neela Gumbad and Anarkali.

    Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2012.

    via Diplomatic relations: Istanbul mayor arrives to warm welcome – The Express Tribune.

  • Visit to Turkey opened new avenues of cooperation: Shahbaz

    Visit to Turkey opened new avenues of cooperation: Shahbaz

    LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that service to the masses is a form of worship and a comprehensive programme of public welfare and rapid development of the province is being pursued.

    Talking to the MPAs belonging to various districts here on Sunday, he said protection of life and property was the foremost priority of the Punjab government and all possible steps would be taken for further improving law and order in the province.

    Shahbaz said every effort was directed towards the progress of the country and it would put on the road to prosperity after being taken out of the current crises under the leadership of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. He said corruption had shaken the foundations of the country and every person would have to play his role for purging the society of the menace. He said merit, good governance and transparency had been promoted in the province and the development projects of present era were unprecedented regarding quality and transparency.

    The chief minister said the transparent utilisation of every penny of the public money was being ensured and all resources were being utilized for the public welfare. He said the credit for materialising the dream of labourers, farmers, widows, martyrs and a common man of having their own shelter went to the PML-N, which, for the first time in the history of the country, had provided facilities to the poor in Ashiana Housing Scheme more than the residential schemes of the elite.

    Shahbaz said steps were being taken for the provision of quality and comfortable transport facilities to the people. He said that after the provincial metropolis, a plan had also been made for extending the scope of Ashiana scheme to other big cities of the province.

    Mentioning his visit to Turkey, Shahbaz said that besides accelerating the pace of implementation on various agreements, his visit had also helped seek new avenues of cooperation with Turkey in other sectors. He said the way Turkey had made progress rapidly and had become a strong economic force was a role model for Pakistan, adding that we could also put our country on the road to progress by working hard.

    The CM said Allah had given rich resources to Pakistan and we could not only achieve self-reliance by developing them but also get rid the menace of charity of foreingers. He stressed upon the elected representatives to spare no effort for ensuring transparent and timely completion of welfare projects.

    via Visit to Turkey opened new avenues of cooperation: Shahbaz.

  • 42 Pakistanis deported from Turkey

    42 Pakistanis deported from Turkey

    By IANS,

    Islamabad : At least 42 Pakistani nationals deported from Turkey reached Pakistan Friday and were taken into custody, a media report said.

    Immigration officials from the Federal Investigation Agency said the people illegally tried to enter Greece via the Iran-Turkey route without passports and other documents three months back but were held by Turkish police, the Online news agency reported.

    They were taken into custody by the interrogation cell of Turkish police and sent back to Pakistan through a special flight Friday.

    The detainees were taken into custody by Pakistani passport cell officials following their arrival at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.

    The deported people include 28 from Gujrat in Punjab province, two from Islamabad, six from Faisalabad and the rest from Peshawar and Lahore.

    via 42 Pakistanis deported from Turkey | TwoCircles.net.

  • Phool raises funds for Turkey quake victims

    Phool raises funds for Turkey quake victims

    OUR STAFF REPORTER

    LAHORE – Monthly “Phool”, a famous children magazine of Nawa-i-Waqt Group, on Saturday organised a ceremony to show solidarity and to generate donations for the victims of Turkey earthquake.

    The ceremony was addressed by Pak-Turk Foundation Director Saadi Yaldarer, Akkas Harmain Sharifain Azmat Sheikh, Editor Monthly “Phool” Mohammad Shoaib Mirza and the other speakers. Mehral Qamar, Shanza Shoaib, Mehak Sabir, Malaika Sabir, Minahil Naeem, Rehan Ahmad, Sufian Ahmad and others donated money and gifts for the earthquake victims.

    Speaking on the ceremony, Pak-Turk Foundation Director Saadi Yaldarer said “Both Pakistan and Turkey help each other in every need of hour. We are two countries but one nation”. He also applauded the spirit of “Phool” children team who donated their pocket money for the good cause that, he said, was a good omen.

    The children of Pakistan, he applauded, are eager to make a contribution to help alleviate the sufferings of the earthquake victims.

    Akkas Harmain Sharifain Azmat Sheikh said that the Muslims around the world are united. He also appreciated the efforts of “Phool” team, adding the ceremony had delivered a message of goodwill to the world.

    Editor “Phool” Mohammad Shoaib Mirza said on the proposal of Anisa Fatima Qadri, a student speaker of first rank, this ceremony was planned.

    He showed pleasure on the donations worth Rs 50,000 and hoped that these children would not borrow money in future. The Muslim world should rely on its own resources instead of looking for others’ assistance, he stressed. Anisa Fatima Qadri in her speech said that ties between the two countries would be made stronger.

    A letter from a student of DG Khan was also delivered on the occasion that read “I feel pleasure to send my entire saving of Rs 1,000 to the earthquake victims of Turkey”.

    The students of New Crescent School Samanabad sang National anthem on the occasion. The ceremony was concluded with the national anthems of both the countries.

    via Phool raises funds for Turkey quake victims | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online.

  • Turkey-Pakistan trade deal seen next year

    Turkey-Pakistan trade deal seen next year

    Turkey-Pakistan trade deal seen next year

    Article | December 11, 2011 – 1:50pm

    Turkey and Pakistan will finalise the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) next year to boost bilateral trade, Murat M. Onart, Consul General Republic of Turkey, said at a meeting with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Zaman reported.

    The consul general said that the signing of agreement will help in boosting trade up to $2 billion between the two countries. Although both countries have potential but it was noted that trade volume was very low.

    The two countries have only $900 million worth of trade in which, Pakistan exports to Turkey were $750 million and imports were $150 million. The consul general said that Turkey inclines towards European market because its businessmen have better opportunities in those countries compared to regional markets. He also called on to improve construction sector. In this regard he said that that political support must be involved and government-to-government link is necessary to invest in this sector.

    On a request from KCCI that Turkey should invest in mineral rich province of Balochistan, the diplomat said that due to security concerns in the area, Turkish and other investors were shy to come to this area. “Until restoration of complete peace it is difficult to consider about investment,” he added. He, however, said that the recent ECO chambers conference had agenda for investing in Balochistan.

    He said Turkey would like to foster the trade, as it is a confidence building measure between countries. Various sectors for investment were outlined during the meeting. Shipping and railway links were also being considered between the two countries.

    via Turkey-Pakistan trade deal seen next year | New Europe.

  • Bin Laden honored in Turkey

    Bin Laden honored in Turkey

    ISTANBUL. – The demonstration dedicated to 18 Turkish Taliban members, who died at the U.S. operation on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, took place in Istanbul’s Fatih mosque. The Reuters presented this event as “Taliban photos from Istanbul”, the Turkish Posta informs.

    In one of the photographs presented by the media people carry a poster with Bin Laden’s photograph.

    “Martyr, your way is also our way,” reads the poster.

    The 18 Taliban members, who died on November 16 during the U.S. military operations, were Turks.

    via Bin Laden honored in Turkey (PHOTOS) | Armenia News – NEWS.am.