Erdogan conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (APP) - The government on Monday conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, the countrys highest civil award on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in recognition of his contribution for strengthening Pak-Turk ties. President Asif Ali Zardari decorated the Turkish Prime Minister with Nishan-e-Pakistan award in a graceful ceremony attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, federal ministers and services chiefs at the Aiwan-e-Sadr here. Turkish Premier Erdogan was the first head of government to visit the affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir after the Oct 8 earthquake. He has been actively involved in rendering assistance to Pakistan through rehabilitation and reconstruction projects for the revival of life after the devastating earthquake. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the 10th foreign recipient of Nishan-e-Pakistan - the highest of civil awards and decorations given by the government of Pakistan for the highest degree of service to the state. Others include Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar, Chinese leader Li Peng, Morarji Desai, Dilip Kumar, Prince Karim Aga Khan, Richard Nixon and Dwight Eisenhower.