Turkish firms to invest in urban transport, waste management.

KARACHI -- Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah addressing the inauguration ceremony of new building of the Turkish Consulate in Clifton said that Pakistan's relationship with Turkey predated the independence of both the states.

The chief minister also hosted visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at CM House earlier, where matters of trade and investment were discussed.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Shah said that under the British rule, the Muslims of India regarded the Ottoman sultan as their caliph and Muslim freedom fighters led the Khilafat Movement to collect donations, assisting their Turkish brethren in their struggle for independence.

During 'Turkey's War of Independence from 1919 to 1923, the Muslims of British India extended their unflinching support to their Turkish brothers by sending financial assistance to the Ottoman Empire,' the CM said and added that during the Turkish-Russian War, a notable educationist from Sindh, Hassanally Effendi mobilised the people of Sindh to help the people of Turkey during the war.

New Turkish consulate building inaugurated

Mr Shah said that in recognition of Mr Effendi's struggle, Turkish government awarded him with two Turkish titles - 'Effendi' and 'Bey'. He added that Mr Effendi was also appointed the honorary Turkish Consul in Karachi.

'Based on this history, the people of Pakistan and particularly of Sindh, share a very special bond with Turkey that has been preserved for over a century,' the CM said.

'When it comes to independence or the strengthening of democracy, the political struggles of Pakistan and Turkey have been quite similar,' Murad Shah said and added both the countries had had similar struggles for democracy and both had had female prime ministers - Ms Tansu Ciller the 22nd Prime Minister of Turkey and Benazir Bhutto.

He said as female prime ministers of Muslim countries, they shared a strong relationship. He added that in 1994, they visited Bosnia together 'as brave mothers and not as politicians' to appeal to world leaders to end atrocities in Bosnia.

The CM said that Turkey and Pakistan did not just share strong diplomatic relations, but also deep economic, religious, cultural and military ties. 'Turkey was among the first few countries that recognised the independent state of Pakistan and supported Pakistan's bid to gain UN membership,' he said and added that 'the Republic of Turkey has expressed its unequivocal and categorical support and solidarity with...