Pakistani PM set to visit Turkey

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Turkey for three days on September 16, said an official press release on Thursday. The two countries will sign several MoUs and agreements besides the highest state award to be conferred upon the Pakistani premier. Nawaz Sharif will visit Turkey on the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, said the press release received from Embassy of Pakistan in Turkey. He is scheduled to meet Turkish President Abdullah Gul as well as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two prime ministers will co-chair the third meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) in Ankara. In recognition of close and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkey, the Turkish president will confer the "Republic Order" (Cumhuriyet Nisan) in a special investiture ceremony upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the press release added. The two countries are likely to sign several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to further enhance relations in all fields especially in the economic and commercial spheres. The Pakistani premier will also visit the site of an award-winning low cost housing project in Ankara, built for disadvantaged communities. Shortly after, Nawaz will head to Istanbul to address a Business Forum and meet with leading Turkish CEOs and investors. The Business Forum is likely to be attended by leading Pakistani businessmen, who will interact with Turkish counterparts to explore mutually beneficial business opportunities. The Pakistani premier's visit to Turkey will be his second official foreign visit after assuming his post earlier this year.