LAHORE: (APP) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called on Turkish Prime Minister BinAli Yildirim at Prime Minister House in Istanbul, on Saturday.
Matters of Pak-Turk relations and promotion of cooperation in different sectors were discussed in the meeting, says a handout issued here.
Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Turk Prime Minister and people over foiling of the coup attempt last month.
He said that people of Turkey had expressed their deep love and commitment to democracy and there were few examples of such a struggle in history.
He said that Turk people had displayed unprecedented courage in saving democracy and wrote a new history by lying down in front of tanks for protecting democratic system.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the enemy of Turkey was the enemy of Pakistan. He said that he was deeply grieved over the recent incidents of terrorism in Turkey and the sympathies of people of Pakistan were with the bereaved families.
The Chief Minister further said that terrorism had become an international issue and there was a need to make collective efforts for elimination of this menace.
He extended an invitation to Turk Prime Minister BinAli Yildirim on behalf of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to visit Pakistan and said that he had also expressed best wishes to the Turk Prime Minister.
Prime Minister of Turkey while accepting the invitation said that he would soon visit Pakistan to meet his very dear brethren.
He also appreciated the solidarity expressed by Pakistan to Turk leadership during the coup attempt in Turkey and appreciated the role of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, parliament and people of Pakistan.
BinAli Yildirim also apprised Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in detail about the incidents that took place during the coup attempt.
He said that the way Pakistan expressed solidarity with the Turk leadership and people during coup attempt was a shining example of historic friendship between the two countries.
He said that friends and enemies of Pakistan and Turkey were common. The Turk Prime Minister further said that democracy had strengthened in Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He said that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had played an exemplary role for the promotion of Pak-Turk friendship and the services rendered by him for strengthening the ties between the two countries were commendable.
He directed Turk Health Minister to extend all possible help for improving healthcare system in Punjab.
Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah, Members National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Kh. Ahmad Hasaan and other members of Pakistani delegation were also present on the occasion.