LAHORE -  Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif especially attended the emergency meeting of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Istanbul on Wednesday.

According to a handout issued here, the chief minister was warmly received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who expressed the sentiments of good gesture when Shehbaz Sharif reached there to attend the OIC Conference.

A meeting was also held between Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  During the meeting, they condemned the US decision on Jerusalem. The CM also held a meeting with Palestinian President Mehmood Abbas on the occasion of OIC conference.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the participation of Punjab Chief Minister in the conference and said that he welcomes the participation of Shehbaz Sharif in the special session of OIC Conference.

Shehbaz Sharif said that it is time to maintain unity and cohesion among the Muslim Ummah. The US announcement of accepting occupied Baitul Muqadas as the Israeli capital has become a threat to maintaining peace in the region and all the Muslim countries have rejected this decision.

He said that this decision has been strongly condemned by the world-over. Pakistani people, as well as the global community, is in the state of anger and anguish upon accepting occupied Baitul Muqaddas as the Israeli capital and religious sentiments of the Muslim community have been badly damaged.

This step of the US has also badly weakened the efforts of maintenance of peace; he added and further said that irresponsible and unbelievable policies of the US have damaged the efforts of finding solutions of the crisis. This step of the US has sparked off the old wounds of the Muslims. He said that such policies of the US will leave negative impacts on maintenance of global peace and efforts of resuscitation of peace in the Middle East.

While talking about the Pak-Turk relations, the Chief Minister said that growing economic cooperation between the two countries is strengthening the mutual friendship and added that example of Pak-Turk relations is difficult to find in the history of the nations. He said that Pakistan and Turkey have harmonious point of view about the promotion and strengthening of peace in the region.

Due to the strengthening of democratic norms and continuity of policies, Turkey has emerged as a prosperous and developed country in the world. Both Pakistan and Turkey enjoy exemplary relations because of their close and continuous contacts and enduring friendship. With every passing moment, these relations are being further strengthened, he concluded.

Also, Shehbaz held a detailed meeting with Mayor of Istanbul Mevlut Uysal in Turkey on Wednesday.

According to a handout issued here, during the meeting, different matters of mutual interest, including extension of cooperation in different sectors, for bringing further improvements in civic amenities came under discussion. Both the leaders strongly condemned the US announcement of accepting occupied Bait-ul-Muqaddas as the Israeli capital.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had represented the sentiments of whole Muslim-world on the issue of occupied Bait-ul-Muqaddas. The US decision of accepting occupied Bait-ul- Muqaddas as the Israeli capital could sabotage peace in the Middle East. The Islamic world should adopt an effective strategy by standing unitedly on this important issue, he added.

The chief minister said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy historically important brotherly relations and added that Turkey is very dear to his heart. "I am thankful to the Turkish leadership, as well as the people of Turkey, for providing extensive cooperation to Pakistan in every sector along with their fullest support," he said. During the tenure of incumbent government of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the brotherly relations between the two countries have turned into useful economic cooperation, he added.

Pakistani people consider Turkey as their second-home and the Turkish people have the same feelings for Pakistan, he said and added that Turkey has tremendously progressed during the tenure of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that Turkish people vehemently love their leader.

The Chief Minister said that immortal historic relations exist between Pakistan and Turkey; while the people of both

the countries are conjoined twins and their hearts beat in unison. He said that strong relations of mutual respect exist between the people of both the countries and this bilateral friendship is getting stronger with every passing moment. He commended the Turkish leadership for adopting a solid view point with regard to occupied Bait-ul-Muqaddas and added that Turkish leadership has profusely represented the sentiments of the Muslim-world by adopting such point of view.

The Mayor of Istanbul said that cooperation with the Punjab government will be further expanded in different sectors and this cooperation will be continued for improving the civic amenities. He said that Shehbaz Sharif has done the exemplary work for the development of the province and we also acknowledge this hard work and passion of the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emerged as a role model for the public welfare works and the speed with which projects have been completed before time have become an example, he said and added that Shehbaz Sharif is moving further the process of public welfare as a mission in the Punjab and he has totally transformed the Punjab province especially the

city of Lahore. 

The Mayor expressed his good wishes for successes of Shehbaz Sharif and assured to provide fullest cooperation for making Punjab as a developed and prosperous province.

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