Agriculture: Pak can learn a lot from Turkey

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan can improve its agricultural productivity by benefiting from the successful experiences of Turkey. He said this while holding discussion with Turkish Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker and other authorities regarding prospects of cooperation between Punjab and Turkey in agriculture sector at Ankara.
The Chief Minister said that Pakistan has lost much by not benefiting from the successful experiences of Turkey but now the time has come to make for this loss. He said that he was deeply impressed with the love and sincerity of Turkish people and gathered the feeling that every Turk wants to do a lot for his Pakistani brethren. Turkish Minister for Agriculture Mehdi Eker said that there is a need for increasing cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey and it was unfortunate that no progress has been made for the implementation of the agreement signed with Pakistan in agriculture sector during his tenure as minister in 2004. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif expressed his regrets with the Turkish Agriculture Minister and said that he will telephone Prime Minister of Pakistan today and request him to consider this issue. He assured his hosts that the agreements reached during his visit will be implemented without any further delay.
A committee was also constituted with mutual consensus of Chief Minister Punjab and Turkish Agriculture Minister to settle details of cooperation between Punjab and Turkey regarding drip irrigation, livestock, horticulture and training of farmers. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Minister, Muhammad Ashraf Sohna, Vice Chairman Punjab Board of Investment, Pir Saad Ehsan-ud-Din, Secretary Commerce, Fazal Abbas Mekan and Secretary Agriculture Arif Nadeem represented Punjab while the Turkish team included, senior officials of agriculture department and local progressive farmers.
Earlier, CM Shahbaz Sharif attended a reception hosted by Speaker National Assembly of Turkey Mehmet Ali Sahin. The Speaker Assembly said that assemblies of both the countries can play an important role in bringing the two nations closer. He invited a parliamentary delegation of Punjab to visit Turkey. The Chief Minister accepted the invitation and said that a delegation of assembly members from Punjab led by speaker provincial assembly will soon visit Turkey. The host speaker said that the visit of Punjab CM will play an important role in cementing trade relations between Turkey and Pakistan.
Punjab Chief Minister, also visited the mausoleum of great Turkish leader, Kamal Ataturk in Ankara. Recording his impressions in the visitors book, M Shahbaz Sharif paid glowing tributes to the Turkish leader and described him as the builder of modern Turkey.
He stated that he had inherited respect and regard for Kamal Ataturk from his forefathers and Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah also held Kamal Ataturk in great esteem. The CM was also conducted to a tour of the museum where he was shown personal belongings of Ataturk. The CM also held meetings with a number of leaders of Turkey, the majority of which inquired from him about Quaid Muslim League-N, M Nawaz Sharif.
Speaker National Assembly of Turkey, Mehmet Ali Sahin talked about Nawaz Sharif with Shahbaz Sharif for quite some time and was informed that Nawaz Sharif is well and is currently on a visit to China. Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin at a function concluded his speech in an emotional manner and asked Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to convey his good wishes to the people, farmers, students and workers on return to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharifs visit is being given extraordinary importance in the national and local press of Ankara. The leading English newspaper of Turkey 'Hurriat Daily News besides publishing a picture of Chief Minister Punjab with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arnich also gave prominent coverage to his visit. Similarly, different channels also recorded interviews of Chief Minister Punjab for their viewers.