Turkey offers cooperation in housing sector

LAHORE: Members of the Turkish delegation, led by new ambassador of Turkey S. Babur G. Girgin, called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday.

Talking on the occasion, the Turkish ambassador termed Shahbaz Sharif brother and sincere friend of Turkish people. He said Shahbaz Sharif lives in the hearts of Turkish people and they have great love for Pakistani people.

Head of Corporation & Coordination Council of Turkey Dr. Sirdar Cam, Member Board of Directors of Red Crescent of Turkey Kamil Kolabash, Provincial Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Lahore Transport Company chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan, the Planning & Development chairman, the secretaries of Auqaf, Housing and Home Departments, the DG PDMA and other officers concerned were also present.

The Turkish delegation offered cooperation in housing sector and promotion of technical education in Punjab during the meeting.

The members of the Turkish delegation said the role of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in strengthening Pak-Turk friendship was commendable.

Director Red Crescent Turkey Kamil Kolabash said when they meet Shahbaz Sharif, they feel as if they are meeting their real brother. He said Shahbaz Sharif is not only the popular chief minister and leader of Punjab but we also consider him as our chief minister.

Expressing his gratitude to the Turkish delegation over the good wishes, Shahbaz Sharif said that the people of Pakistan and Turkey were intimate friends and hearts of the people of both the countries beat together.

Welcoming the offer of cooperation in housing sector and promotion of technical education, Shahbaz Sharif expressed the hope that, during the tenure of new ambassador of Turkey, ties between Pakistan and Turkey would further strengthen. He said that, no doubt, Pak-Turkish friendship was strengthening with every passing day, due to the efforts of present leadership of Pakistan and Turkey, historical brotherly relations between the two countries were now changing into economic cooperation.

He said that Turkey had helped Pakistan in every hour of trial generously during natural calamities like flood or earthquake. He said that ties between both countries were tied with the relationship of brotherhood, love and affection.

Referring to the development of technical education sector, the chief minister said that through promotion of technical education, job opportunities could be created and poverty reduced. He said that there was no dearth of manpower in Pakistan and 60 percent population of the country consists of youth aging 15 to 30 years. He said that the Punjab government was running skill development programme successfully with the cooperation of DFID UK. He said that the Punjab government wanted to benefit from the experience and expertise of Turkey for the promotion of technical education. He said that Turkey had made tremendous development through the promotion of technical education.