Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of energy‚ trade‚ economy‚ culture‚ defence and communication. The agreement came at the second high level cooperation council meeting between Pakistan and Turkey here. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan jointly presided over the meeting. Both the sides pledged to increase the trade volume between the countries to the tune of two billion dollars during the current financial year. The Council meeting expressed its satisfaction over the increase in the mutual trade activities between the two countries during the last few years. The meeting also reviewed how to increase trade on priority basis between the two countries. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani asked the Turkish Companies to invest in Communication and Housing sectors in Pakistan where enormous incentives are being offered to the investors. He thanked Turkey for its cooperation in the rehabilitation of the flood affectees and in construction of houses for them. Turkish Prime Minister said the hearts of two people of Pakistan and Turkey throb in unison and that Pakistan is his second home. He assured to continue his country's cooperation to Pakistan. Earlier during the one on one meeting between the two Prime Ministers they discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in different fields. The two Prime Ministers also signed the joint declaration on the second high level cooperation council meeting.
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Pakistan and Turkey have maintained long-standing military ties, with Turkey supplying arms, military equipment and training Pakistani officers.[10] On 2 April 1954, Pakistan and Turkey signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. Both countries, valued as important states in their regions, joined the U.S.-led Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) aimed to bolster military and strategic cooperation and counter the spread of communism and Soviet influence in the region.[19] Turkey has openly supported Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir conflict and maintained political and military support during its wars with India.[19][20] Pakistan has reciprocated by expressing support for Turkey's policy on Northern Cyprus.[12][21] Both nations have sought to expand cooperation to fight terrorism.[10][12] Both countries are also members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
A container train service was launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani between Islamabad and Istanbul on 14 August 2009. The first train carried 20 containers with a capacity of around 750 t (738 long tons; 827 short tons) [14] and will travel 6,500 km (4,000 mi) from Islamabad, through Balochistan and Tehran, Iran and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time.[15] According to the Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched.[16] There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to Europe and Central Asia, and carry passengers.
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In the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, Turkey stepped up its efforts to help the people of the affected areas. Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, paid an official visit to Pakistan in order to share the grief and agony of the brotherly people of Pakistan.[26] Turkey announced a package of $150 million for the quake-hit people.[27] The Turkish aid organization Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent) also constructed a mosque in the Azad Kashmir region. The mosque is being built in the Ottoman Style in Pakistan's Bagh District; it would have a capacity to accommodate 300 people, besides a guesthouse, a lodging facility and a teaching area for 250 students practicing the holy book of Islam, the Koran.[28]
In response to the 2010 Pakistan floods, Turkey issued a rallying cry for flood-hit Pakistan. Apart, from the state and its organizations, a number of Turkish businessmen also initiated aid campaigns for Pakistan.[29] Turkey also sent a train carrying humanitarian aid for the flood stricken Pakistan. The train is loaded with humanitarian aid collected by Turkey' s Sabah (daily newspaper)-ATV (TV channel) Group and Turkish Red Crescent. The aid consists of 300 prefabricated houses, 2,000 food parcels, 930 sacks of flour, hygienic materials, dried food, diapers and potable water.[30] The Turkish government also announced building of a Turkish town in the flood stricken Pakistan.[31] Turkey has donated a total of $11 million to Pakistan.[32] Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan also visited parts of flood stricken Pakistan, Erdoğan traveled from Islamabad to Karachi with six ministers, flying by helicopter to witness aid efforts, including the completion of a village of 2,000 prefabricated houses built by the Turkish Red Crescent near Multan, in the eastern province of Punjab.[33] After the flood when the Turkish Prime Minister could not come to Pakistan due to his engagements he sent his wife to look after the flood victims and after success in referendum he immediately came to Pakistan and personally gave the keys of the houses constructed by Turkish welfare organization to the flood affectees.[34]
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, during his visit to Pakistan has said,
“We love you and I believe you love us. Pakistan... did not abandon us after the 1999 earthquake.”
The head of the Turkish Red Crescent, Tekin Kucukali has told a local newspaper,
“The two countries’ people love each other unconditionally. That’s why the Turkish people wholeheartedly participate in ongoing aid campaigns for Pakistan.”
The Chief Minister of the Punjab Province in Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif has thanked Turkey by stating,
“Turkey and Pakistan are bonded in religious, cultural and historical ties and Turkey has always supported Pakistan in difficult times. Turkey and Pakistan have close fraternity.”
The Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Babur Hizlan thanked the Chief Minister on holding a ceremony on the 87th independence day of Turkish Republic,
“Pakistan and Turkey have deep-rooted historical relations and the Turk people consider Pakistan as their second home. He said that relations between the two countries are growing with the passage of time and are role a model for other states. He said that the ties between Turkey and Pakistan are time tested and both the countries have supported each other on international forums.”
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ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (AFP) - Pakistan has sent two planeloads of relief goods to Turkey for the victims of a devastating earthquake that has left some 3,500 people dead and thousands wounded, officials said Wednesday.
The relief goods include tents, blankets and medicines. Pakistan will also send a team of doctors and medical staff to help the eathquake victims.
The announcement came after a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
It said Sharif had directed departments to send "all possible assistance."
Pakistan's main private humanitarian organization, Edhi Welfare Trust, said it would also despatch relief material after ascertaining the requirements from the Turkish embassy here.
President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar and Sharif have sent messages of condolence to their Turkish counterparts on the tragedy.
Pakistani opposition leader and former premier Benazir Bhutto, in a statement Wednesday, expressed her "deepest grief and sorrow" over the quake disaster.
She urged the government to extend "a helping hand to Turkey in this hour of need and do whatever is necssary to help rehabilitate the victims."
A powerful earthquake in Turkey has claimed 3,479 lives and injured 16,782 people according to latest estimates.
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ISTANBUL - Realising the role of Pakistanis who helped Turks during the devastating Marmara earthquake in 1999, President of Turkey Abdullah Gul has called upon the Turkish people to help the disaster-hit country by donating generously.
It is now Turkeys turn to help flood-ravaged Pakistan, Gul told reporters urging the nation to come forward to help their Pakistani brothers and sisters in their difficult time. I am calling on all our people to actively participate in these ongoing aid campaigns. I am sure that the Turkish people will do it.
Not only because we are friends and brothers with Pakistan, but also for humanitarian reasons, Gnl told reporters in Istanbul. Gul especially mentioned the role of the people of the country (Pakistan) who helped Turks during the War of Independence in the 1920s and the devastating Marmara earthquake in 1999.
Gul underlined that it was a national obligation for the Turks to stand by their brothers in Pakistan as sons and daughters of the two nations who had always been supportive of each other and who have enjoyed unmatched pattern of togetherness despite the immense geographical distance between their two countries. While interacting with the media men, the Turkish President welcomed the aid campaigns launched by the media, civilian organisations and trade chambers, and said the Turkish armed forces, the office of the Prime Minister and other state institutions would join the Red Crescent in sending humanitarian aid to Pakistan. Later, in a symbolic move, Gnl donated money to a charity that was collecting donations from people outside Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as Blue Mosque) situated in heart of Istanbul.
Following appeal of President Gul, Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan in his message to the Turkish nation has urged them to come forward to help Pakistani brothers and sisters.
Today is the day to extend a fast, strong and determined hand to help Pakistan, and as Turks realise more the magnitude of the disaster, obviously the Turkish aid to Pakistan will increase.
He further said, We, unfortunately, were a little bit late, however, I am sure the Pakistani people will forgive us, but it took some time to grasp the immense dimension of the catastrophe Pakistanis were subjected to and get mobilized.
As the flood continues teasing Pakistanis forcing millions of them to flee homes and putting more than 70,000 children at the risk of blatant disease of gastro, efforts are underway at Turkish state institutions and nongovernmental organisations to help the people of Pakistan. Bank accounts for donations have been opened within the scope of the aid campaigns while special donation desks have also been set up across the big cities to receive donations. The Turkish Red Crescent is busy in collecting monetary contributions and sending them to the region to meet the needs of flood victims. Along with other institutions of Turkey, widely read newspaper of the country Dilly Hurriat has donated 100,000 Turkish Liras to the effort through the campaign it launched for Pakistan. Vuslat Dogan Sabanci, publisher of Daily Hnrriyet, donated 25,000 liras while Ferit Sahenk, the CEO of Dogus Holding, gave 100,000 liras. According to authorities in Istanbul, the Red Crescent has finalised preparations to send an additional 105 tons of aid material to Pakistan in line with the needs there, including prefabricated houses to provide temporary shelter that will be sent by train. It is important to mention here that the Turkish organisation has already sent 140 tons of aid material, including foodstuffs and cleaning equipment, potable water, blankets, medicine and tents. When contacted by this correspondent , Mayer of Ankara Melih Gktek said on telephone that his municipality would join the effort to send aid to Pakistan.
Later in the evening, a press note issued by the media cell of his municipality stated that it planned to send 75 tons of food and cleaning supplies, along with four mobile bread bakeries.
Interacting with this correspondent at public places, a large number of common people of Turkey opined that Turkey and Pakistan were two nations that were not just friendly at all. Relations between the Turkish and the Pakistani nations, despite the huge geographical distance between them, have always been a brotherly one. During the visit to the city, this correspondent observed that helping a brother in need, is part of the culture of the Turkish nation and when it comes to help a brother, as we experienced in the last killer quake in Pakistan (October 2005), schoolchildren might step forward stretching their hands with precious donations they saved from their pocket money, or young brides might come forward to donate their wedding rings. In an attempt to make the people donate for Pak flood affectees, authorities here in Istanbul have got published a letter in most of the publications stating that Pakistan is in need today and helping out a brother to come out of a disastrous natural disaster killing in thousands and rendering homeless in millions must be, and it is, a national duty for every member of the Turkish nation. The letter aims at urging the Turks to donate to help their brothers. According the letter, so far, the amount of Turkish aid to Pakistan has reportedly exceeded $13 million and is increasing. Besides, within days Turkey will establish two field hospitals - each manned by a 20-member medical team composed of doctors and health personnel - and the Turkish Red Crescent is in efforts to send more of those easily constructed pre-fabricated Mevlana homes that it has in its depots as part of preparedness for possible natural disasters in this quake-stricken nation.
Meanwhile, authorities in Istanbul told media persons that the preparations were almost completed to send a Pakistan-bound train of brotherhood.
The Turkish Sate Railways, TCDD, in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent will be supplying Pakistan with some 500 tons of supplies. Besides, not only the government and the Red Crescent, but municipalities, non-governmental organizations, newspapers have also launched campaigns to help out the brothers in need in Pakistan. Major national newspapers here in Turkey, have already launched massive aid campaigns for the flood victims of Pakistan, described by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the worst disaster he ever saw.
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