LAHORE - Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has left indelible marks of love and brotherhood between the two countries and their bilateral relations will further strengthen and touch new heights in future.
Talking to Turkish media at Lahore airport before the departure of Turk Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Islamabad on Tuesday, he said the visit of Turkish Prime Minister to Pakistan was a big honour and by extending maximum hospitality to the distinguished guests, Lahorites had upheld their tradition.
The chief minister said that though Turkey and Pakistan were separate countries but the hearts of their people were beating in unison. He said Turkish leadership especially President Abdullah Gull, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mayor Istanbul Kadir Topbas had a deep affinity with Pakistanis and had taken practical measures to prove their love for the Pakistani nation. He said sentiments of goodwill that the Turkish leadership had for Pakistan could not be expressed in words. He said the fraternal ties between Turkey and Pakistan were strengthening with the passage of time and he was confident that the visit of Prime Minister Erdogan would further promote economic and trade relations between the two countries and the volume of trade between Turkey and Pakistan would increase manifold.
Shahbaz said he was personally grateful to the Turkish prime minister for the assurance given by him of taking practical steps for increasing economic and trade relations between the two countries. He said the people of Turkey and Pakistan were bound together in strong historical, religious and cultural ties and their joys and sorrows were common. He said government and people of Turkey had helped Pakistan in the times of war and peace and the relations between the two countries had stood the test of time. He said bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan had strengthened in the tenure of present leadership.
The chief minister said that the help and assistance rendered by the government and people of Turkey at the time of earthquake in 2005 and worst flood in 2010 to their distressed Pakistani brethren was unparalleled in human history. He said Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan had played a key role in bringing the two countries closer and he was thankful to him for adding a new chapter to Pak-Turkish relations. The CM presented an album of photographs to the Turkish prime minister regarding his visit to Lahore.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said Tuesday that love and affection he received in Lahore was unforgettable and Shahbaz Sharif had won the hearts of Turkish delegation by extending a rousing and enthusiastic welcome.
Talking to Turkish media at Lahore Airport before his departure for Islamabad, he said Shahbaz had a lot of qualities and he believed in completing his task. He said Shahbaz had executed several development projects in the province and set new records of development.

The Turkish prime minister said that Lahore was like a second home for him and the love and affection he had received in Lahore could not be described in words. He thanked the chief minister and said he had proved to be a brother in the real sense through the hospitality extended to the Turkish delegation.
Earlier, Erdogan and his delegation left for Islamabad on Tuesday after a two day-visit to Lahore. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, federal and provincial ministers, assembly members, chief secretary, IG police and other officers were present at the airport.
The Turkish prime minister during his stay in Lahore attended a cultural show at Aitchison College and Pak-Turkish Business Forum, besides meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind. He also visited Allama Iqbal mausoleum and laid a floral wreath. The Turkish delegation also paid a visit to Badshahi Mosque and attended a dinner.