By Rehan Khan
Islamabad, Wednesday, 22 January 2025 (TNS): Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Wednesday met with the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Irfan Nazir Oglu, to deliberate on key proposals fostering religious harmony, upholding respect for humanity, and creating more employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in Turkiye.
Minister Salik emphasized the deep-rooted bond between Pakistan and Turkiye, describing the two nations as “one soul in two bodies,” united by enduring ties of religion, history, and culture. He highlighted the shared perspectives of both countries on regional and global issues and acknowledged their unwavering support for one another in international forums.
Dr. Irfan Nazir Oglu expressed his condolences over the tragic loss of Pakistani lives in the Morocco boat incident and reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to providing enhanced employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers. He further noted Turkiye’s ongoing efforts to expand the supply of machinery to Pakistani industries and to increase collaboration on technical training and educational initiatives in Pakistan.
The Turkish Ambassador underlined the success of several Turkish companies operating in Pakistan while acknowledging the vast potential to further enhance bilateral trade and joint investments. He reiterated the strong fraternal ties between the two nations and expressed confidence that Pakistan and Turkiye could achieve significant milestones in the economic domain.
Minister Salik highlighted the Pakistani government’s proactive measures to combat human trafficking, stating that in the past year alone, 600,000 Pakistanis secured employment abroad. He also noted the record $3.1 billion in remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis by December 2024. Stressing the importance of stronger financial ties, he advocated for the establishment of efficient banking channels between Pakistan and Turkiye to facilitate mutual trade.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to enhance collaboration in combating extremism and terrorism, promoting interfaith harmony, and equipping skilled Pakistani workers with advanced technical education to meet global standards.
