Ambassador of Turkey Engin Soysal called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister House on Friday to present a cheque of one million dollars to him as donation from his government for the earthquake victims of Balochistan.
Recalling the unfortunate natural disaster in Balochistan, which had taken place when Prime Minister was visiting Turkey, the Ambassador stated that Prime Minister Erdogan had personally directed Turkish Red Crescent and other philanthropic organisations to immediately mobilise the relief efforts for quake victims in Balochistan.
The Turkish Red Crescent is already in affected areas of Balochistan, helping build shelters while 20 vehicles carrying containers of relief goods were on their way. The Prime Minister appreciated this noble gesture of the government of Turkey. He said people of the two countries have fraternal brotherly relations and they have always stood by each other in times of trial. The Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Turkey last month and the honour bestowed on him for being the chief guest on Turkey's National Day.
He termed his meetings with the Turkish leadership and the trilateral meeting between him, President Karzai and Prime Minister Erdogan as most productive and hoped that the co-operation between Pakistan and Turkey in multifaceted fields would be further strengthened in future.
Noting that President of Pakistan was scheduled to attend the trilateral summit in Istanbul between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey, the Prime Minister lauded the Turkish role in bringing the two brotherly neighbours ever closer.
When informed of a four-member Turkish parliamentary delegation's visit to Pakistan this week in connection with the functions being planned for Turkish School in Islamabad and their wish to visit the earthquake affected areas for expression of solidarity with the victims, Prime Minister issued the instructions for suitable arrangements of their visit to Balochistan in co-ordination with the provincial government. Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar also attended the meeting.