Gov’t committed for Promotion of foreign investment in country: PM

ANKARA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said promoting foreign investment in Pakistan was one of the top priorities of his government.

PM Sharif, who is on a three-day visit to Turkey, stated this in a meeting with a delegation of a Turkish company Sutas Group headed by its Board President Muharrem Yilmaz.

The prime minister said the government was removing the hurdles faced by investors during the last four years.

He said the government was ensuring employment opportunities and setting up industries in the country.

The delegation of Sutas Group expressed deep interest in investing in the dairy sector in Pakistan.

The prime minister issued directives to the concerned Pakistani authorities to extend cooperation to the Sutas Group.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday visited The Nation’s Library in the Turkish capital and evinced keen interest in the largest collection of books in the country.

The prime minister expressed profound appreciation for the exclusive section set up for Pakistani books at the library.

He also took a round of the area dedicated to children interested in book-reading.

Set up by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the library serves as inspiration from the great Seljuk Empire, Ottoman, and contemporary architecture.

Earlier, Pakistan and Turkey on Wednesday signed various bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for enhanced cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest, including trade, economy, communication, environment and housing.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements and MOUs.

Pakistan, Turkey sign agreements, MOUs for enhanced cooperation in diverse areas

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Minister for Commerce and Investment Syed Naveed Qamar and Turkish ministers for Trade and Transport signed the documents on behalf of their respective governments. Following is the detail of bilateral documents: 1) Memorandum of Understanding between the Turkish Presidency of Strategy and Budget, and Pakistan’s Public Private Partnership Authority. 2) Framework For Knowledge Sharing Programme between the Government of Turkey and the Government of Pakistan.

Pakistan, Turkey sign agreements, MOUs for enhanced cooperation in diverse areas

3) Memorandum of Understanding on Highway Engineering between the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and Pakistan’s Ministry of Communications. 4) Joint Ministerial Statement on Developing Bilateral Trade and Economic Relations between Turkey and Pakistan. 5) Technical Cooperation Protocol between the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance and Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance. 6) Cooperation Protocol on Debt Management between the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance, and Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. 7) Memorandum of Understanding between the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and NAYA Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) on Cooperation in the Field of Housing.

The prime minister, in a meeting with Turkish Health Minister Dr Fahrettin Koca who called on him during his three-day official visit here, congratulated over the commendable handling of COVID-19 by Turkey.

During the meeting, the prime minister stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the health sector.

He appreciated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for transforming the health system in Turkey in the last two decades.

He recalled several joint initiatives undertaken by the Turkish government in Pakistan in the health sector especially in health services, pharmaceuticals, digital health and training and capacity building of medical professionals.

Shehbaz Sharif greatly admired Turkish generosity witnessed during the 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods.

He particularly appreciated the establishment of Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Muzaffargarh following the massive floods in Pakistan.

He advised the Turkish-Pakistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Health to undertake in-depth discussions on various aspects of bilateral health cooperation.

The prime minister underscored the importance of following up on various initiatives including collaboration in the establishment of pathology labs, enhanced functioning of Pakistan Kidney Liver Institute (PKLI), and automobile ambulances.

The Turkish health minister highlighted the potential for enhanced collaboration in various aspects of the health field, such as manufacturing of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, health tourism and quality control.

He indicated that a team of Turkish Health Ministry would visit Pakistan in the near future.

The health minister also informed that a “Pak-Medica Expo and Business Forum” would be held in Pakistan in October this year.

During the meeting, it was agreed, that the two sides will remain engaged on agreed areas of cooperation through the Joint Working Group on Health.