ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Thursday presented a guard of honour during an official welcome ceremony held here at the Prime Minister House.

Upon arrival at the PM House, President Erdogan was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

President Erdogan, who was presented a salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of the armed forces, reviewed the guard.

National anthems of the two countries were also played on the occasion.
Later, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Recep Rayyip Erdogan introduced their respective delegartions.

Earlier, President Erdogan was accorded a warm red-carpet welcome at the Nur Khan airbase as he arrived on a two-day official visit to Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan received the Turkish leader. Senior Pakistani officials as well as the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan were also present on the occasion.

Two children clad in traditional Pakistani costume presented bouquets to President Erdogan and the Turkish First Lady.

Prime Minister Imran Khan later himself drove President Erdogan to the Prime Minister House for welcome ceremony.

President Erdogan, who is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members and senior government officials, as well as heads and CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) of leading Turkish corporations.

During the visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan will have a tete-a-tete, after which they will co-chair the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in the joint cabinet format.

At the conclusion of the session, a Joint Declaration will be signed. A number of important agreements / MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) are expected to be concluded. The two leaders will have a joint press stakeout, the Foreign Office said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

Besides, holding a separate meeting with President Dr. Arif Alvi, President Erdogan will also address a Joint Session of the Parliament.

Together with Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Erdogan will address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum, which brings together leading investors and business-people from both sides.

The High Level Strategic Cooperation Council is the highest level decision-making forum, providing strategic direction to further strengthening of relations between the two countries. There are seven Joint Working Groups (JWGs) working under the HLSCC, focused on Political Coordination; Trade & Investment; Energy; Banking & Finance; Transport & Communications; Culture & Tourism; and Education. So far, 5 sessions of the HLSCC have been held, alternately in Islamabad and Ankara.

Pakistan and Turkey have a unique and abiding relationship characterized by mutual support and exceptional mutual trust and understanding. The two brotherly countries have always been each other’s steadfast partners. Turkey supports the cause of self-determination for the people of Indian-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan stands by Turkey on the question of Cyprus.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan, Pakistan-Turkey relations have further fortified into an enduring partnership. Both sides place a strong emphasis on forging a robust economic relationship. There is also a joint resolve to translate historic amity into vibrant cooperation in diverse fields, including in the context of combating Islamophobia, promoting Islamic solidarity, and advancing shared goals of regional peace, security and stability.

The visit of President Erdogan will serve to underscore the traditional solidarity and affinity between the two countries, and prove to be another significant milestone in the further deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership, the statement concluded.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey was accorded a warm red-carpet welcome as he arrived here Thursday on a two-day official visit.

Prime Minister Imran Khan received the Turkish leader at the Nur Khan Airbase. Senior Pakistani officials as well as the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan were also present on the occasion.

Two children, clad in traditional Pakistani costume, presented bouquet to President Erdogan and the Turkish First Lady.

Contingent of static guards presented salute to the visiting dignitaries.

Later, Prime Minister Imran Khan himself drove President Erdogan to the Prime Minister House for welcome ceremony.

President Erdogan, who was visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, was accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising cabinet members and senior government officials, as well as heads and CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) of leading Turkish corporations.

During the visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan will have tete-a-tete, after which they will co-chair the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in the joint cabinet format.

At the conclusion of the Session, a Joint Declaration will be signed. A number of important agreements/MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) are expected to be concluded. The two leaders will have a joint press stakeout, Foreign Office said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

Besides holding a separate meeting with President Dr. Arif Alvi, President Erdogan will also address a Joint Session of the Parliament of Pakistan.

Together with Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Erdogan will address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum which brings together leading investors and business-people from both sides.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired a meeting to review progress of the ongoing federal development schemes and projects in Sindh.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Information Technology Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and relevant federal secretaries, a press release issued by the PM Media Office said.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar Thursday invited the Opposition to work out a charter of economy, outlining a reform package for revival of agriculture, industry, tax collection, banking and energy sectors in the country.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister said the government was facing
economic challenges including rising inflation and stagnant exports.

He said the federal government held a meeting on the issue of wheat and the
Sindh government had committed to procure 1.4 million tons a year.

He said when the government came into power, the foreign exchange reserves
were at $ 8 billion and the current account deficit was at $ 19 billion.The debt had
risen to 78 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), he added.

He said on the one side, Pakistan had the challenge of rising population and
on the other its per acre yield was low.

The government had devised export-oriented policies to increase exports, he
said adding prices of agricultural products were dependent on demand and supply
and the government was taking initiatives to keep prices low.

Speaking in the House, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the government itself
affirmed that people were facing the issue of price hikes and high inflation, adding
reportedly food inflation was at 24 percent in rural areas.

He said the concerns of Opposition regarding inflation and economic slowdown
had proven right.

Ahsan said in 2018, the World Bank had projected a growth rate of six percent
while in 2019 it forecast growth of 2 percent and added the nation may be informed
about the real reasons.

PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said at present Pakistan had the lowest economic
growth rate in the region.

He said poor people were badly affected due to worsening economic conditions.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over the approval of the United States for sale of integrated air defence weapon system to India, saying the step would disturb the peace of already volatile region.

“The decision of U.S will have serious impact on the stability of the region,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said at a weekly press briefing at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The U.S. Department of State on Monday approved a possible sale to India of military equipment, comprising an integrated air defense weapon system (IADWS). According to the U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the cost of the sale, if finalized, would be approximately $1.867 billion.

The FO spokesperson said the South Asia could not afford a race on weaponry among the nations.

On Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K), she said the 193rd day of lockdown had deprived the people from basic amenities of life as the valley had turned into a largest human jail in the history.

She expressed concern over the continuous ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control resulting in several casualties, and said Pakistan had warned international community of any possible false flag operation by India.

Such provocations by the RSS-inspired Bharatia Janta Party government are designed to distract the consistent human rights violations, being carried out in Indian Occupied Kashmir, she added.

She called upon the international community to take notice of the situation as any irresponsible act by India could prove disastrous to regional peace and stability.

On visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan today, she said Pakistan and Turkey enjoyed unique brotherly relationship as both supported each other on important issues.

She said the visit would further strengthen the existing relationship into a more meaningful
partnership.

On upcoming visit of UN Secretary General Antoneo Guterrus to Pakistan on February 16-17, the spokesperson said he would attend a conference, marking the 40 years of Pakistan hosting the Afghan refugees.

She said the conference would will be attended by representatives from 20 countries as the
occasion would showcase Pakistan’s goodwill and compassion for refugees for four decades.

The international conference is taking place at a juncture when peace in Afghanistan has new prospects, she added.

She said the the UN Secretary General would also visit Lahore and Gurdwara Kartarpur
Sahib.

On favour from other countries for voting on upcoming decision on Financial Action Task Force (FATF), she said “We are always hopeful, always optimistic. We have international partners who would support us.”

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Minister of State for States and Frontier Regions Shehryar Afridi Thursday informed the National Assembly that the government has launched “Zindagi” App to create awareness amongst youth with regard to the hazardous effects of synthetic drug penetration.

Responding to a question, during question hour, he said that interactive sessions were also being arranged with all the schools and educational institutions regarding Zindagi App.

He said that country’s youth is responsible for ensuring bright future of the country therefore, parents and teachers will have to educate the youth about dangerous effects of drugs in their lives.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):Railway Minister Sheikh Rasheed Thursday assured that with the orders of Supreme Court (SC), Sindh government and Railways will start removing all encroachments that come in the way of Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) and it would be functional soon.

Talking to a private news channel, he reiterating his commitment that the federal government would ensure implementation of the KCR project without any delay and promised all-out assistance to Sindh government in this regard.

He said Karachi Circular Railway was the project of Sindh government but after the SC orders the ministry of railways would extend all possible cooperation and support to Sindh government for timely execution of the Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) project which will be complete soon where at least one train will be launch
in next three months.

The Railway Minister said that the Pakistan Railways had become the only railways in the world which was earning profit and achieving its target goals with highest ever revenue under the leadership of Prime minister Imran khan.

Minister also hailed the positive timely step of Justice Gulzar Ahmed for taking this issue seriously.

He said old tracks and signals were among the main causes of the accidents around Railway lines, adding, Main Line-1 (ML-1) was the only solution to all issues where work will start.

After the completion of ML-1 the train would complete its journey from Lahore to Karachi in six hours and from Rawalpindi to Karachi in eight hours adding new signals and tracks would also be constructed, he added.

He said that currently 138 trains were running on the track that was the achievement of Pakistan Railways.

Replying a Question regarding Wheat crises, he said there is no wheat and sugar crises but in past mismanagement was the reason behind this issue, adding, all the district administrations had been directed to ensure government rates of the wheat flour in their respective areas as some of the dealers had created artificial crisis of the flour in provinces.

He said strong policies and prudent economic plans of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had put the country on the way of prosperity.