LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Turkey has made tremendous progress under the leadership of Turk Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said that due to the tireless efforts and struggle of Turkish people and government, Turkey has become a great economic power of the world. He said that economic development of Turkey is the result of dynamic leadership and struggle of Turk leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for which he salutes Turkish leadership.
He was addressing Pak-Turk Business Forum here on Monday. Turk Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Federal Ministers, Senators, assembly members, industrialists and members of Turkish delegation were present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that historic, cultural and brotherly relations exist between Pakistan and Turkey and people of both the countries are bound together in strong ties of brotherhood. He said that hearts of the people of Pakistan and Turkey beat together. That is why, during the worst flood of the history of Pakistan in 2010, not only Turkish Prime Minister visited flood-hit areas but thousands of Turk businessmen celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha with Pakistani flood affectees, he added.
The Chief Minister said that not only this but Turkish Prime Minister and his wife visited Istanbul, Ankara, Konya and other cities and collected one hundred million dollars for Pakistani flood affectees. Shahbaz Sharif said that he had never seen such a glorious example of brotherhood in his life. He said that Turkish government, its leadership and people have always stood with Pakistan in every natural calamity including floods or earthquake. He said that they have always helped Pakistanis like a family which we can never forget. Shahbaz Sharif said that he had visited Turkey four times and when he met Turkish leadership, it always mentioned the cooperation and help of Muslims of subcontinent during Tehrik-e-Khalafat whereas Turk brethren have helped Pakistan more in every hour of distress. He said that though brotherly and friendly relations exist between Pakistan and Turkey yet it is need of the hour that these relations should be converted into economic cooperation. 
The Chief Minister said that Turkey which was called “sick man” of Europe has now become modern Turkey under the leadership of Tayyip Erdogan. He said that we can also make progress and the country economically strong by benefiting from the development and technology of Turkey.
He thanked Turk Prime Minister for visiting Pakistan and providing an opportunity to play host to Turk brethren.