ISLAMABAD
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday Pakistan and T\u00fcrkiye should work together and deepen their partnership through collective research and joint development.
\n\u201cWe believe that Pakistan and T\u00fcrkiye should work together and deepen their partnership through collective research and joint development and pooling of resources,\u201d Shehbaz Sharif told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.
\nCalling bilateral relations with T\u00fcrkiye \u201cexemplary,\u201d Sharif said: \u201cThese historic relations are grounded firmly in common religious, cultural, and linguistic links and transcend political changes on either side.\u201d
\nThis year, the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
\nSharif paid a two-day official visit to T\u00fcrkiye on Friday at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
\nOn Friday, he and Erdogan jointly inaugurated the third of four MILGEM corvette ships manufactured by T\u00fcrkiye for the Pakistani navy.
\nOver the past seven and a half decades, Sharif said, the two sides have always \u201cstood by each other in the face of all changes.\u201d
\n\u201cPakistan and T\u00fcrkiye support each other on all issues of core national interests — whether it is Jammu and Kashmir or Northern Cyprus. I would like to take this opportunity to thank T\u00fcrkiye, particularly its leadership, for its principled support on Jammu and Kashmir dispute,\u201d he said.
\nHe said the two nations also have similar views on regional and international issues, while also enjoying \u201cclose collaboration on bilateral, regional, and multilateral forums. People-to-people and cultural contacts are on an upward trajectory.\u201d
\n\u201cConfronted by common challenges and new and emerging threats, Pakistan and T\u00fcrkiye have deepened their cooperation across various spheres, particularly in defense,\u201d Sharif said, lauding the Turkish defense industry which has \u201cachieved spectacular success under the leadership of President Erdogan, defying all odds and challenges in the past two decades.\u201d
\n\u201cPakistan is T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s largest defense customer,\u201d the prime minister underlined, adding that their collaboration on the construction of the MILGEM-class warships, not only has a \u201cunique value\u201d for the Pakistani Navy\u2019s capability enhancements, but also \u201cprominently stands out as a defining moment to further cement the bonds of friendship between our two nations and our two navies.\u201d
\n\u2018Mix of policies to tackle economic downturn\u2019
\nSharif, who was elected prime minister in April after his predecessor Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence, said Pakistan\u2019s economy \u201cwas facing multiple global and domestic challenges\u201d and was \u201con the verge of financial collapse\u201d when he assumed charge.
\n\u201cThe economic policies of the previous government were not pro-growth and led the economy to multiple challenges,
\n\u201cPakistan\u2019s economy was facing excessive monetary tightening, supply-side shocks, lingering pandemic effects, waning investors\u2019 confidence, high inflation, and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,\u201d he said.
\nHowever, Sharif said his administration had adopted a \u201cmix of policies to tackle the economic downturn by accepting the fact that we have a very short time to step back from the edge of bankruptcy and financial collapse.\u201d
\n\u201cNo doubt, some of our policy options, like the withdrawal of untargeted subsidies, had added to the cost to the economy in the short term. But, most of our policies are more likely to offer benefits in the longer term,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cThis was a matter of policy choices and political will. Although such a tough decision requires huge political capital, we took the risk of taking these decisions by reverting the untargeted subsidies.
\n\u201cWe are also aware of the fact that our current course of action is hurting the most vulnerable and marginalized in society but we are taking care of them by announcing targeted subsidies and other relief measures,\u201d the prime minister said.
\nSharif said the revival of the IMF program and \u201cactive engagement with bilateral and multilateral partners\u201d had eased the pressure.
\nTo tackle the economy, he noted that his government took measures to reduce the import bill, current account deficit, and pressure on the Pakistani rupee.
\nThe \u201ccontinuous decline in imports\u201d helped improve the current account deficit during the first four months of the 2023 financial year, he added.
\nSharif, however, said the massive floods that hit Pakistan early this year \u201ccaused a great deal of suffering.\u201d
\nBut, he said, \u201crecently announced packages of our government for farmers and businessmen will help stimulate economic activities.\u201d
\nCalls on industrialized countries to meet climate finance commitments
\nSharif said that while Pakistan contributes less than 1% of the global carbon footprint, it \u201cis facing the brunt of natural calamities in the form of heat waves, glacial outbursts, droughts, torrential rains, and unprecedented monsoons.\u201d
\n\u201cThere is an urgent need for the industrialized countries to meet their climate finance commitments, with a balanced focus on adaptation and mitigation,\u201d he said, welcoming a deal to establish a \u201closs and damage fund\u201d to compensate developing countries most severely impacted by climate change.
\nHe also suggested that the international community explore the possibilities of \u201cdebt swaps for climate action, particularly adaptation.\u201d
\nOn how his government was responding to the situation created by massive floods that inundated vast swathes of Pakistan earlier this year, Sharif said the country \u201cmounted coordinated rescue and relief operations mobilizing all possible resources and capacities.\u201d
\nA dedicated National Flood Response and Coordination Centre (NFRCC) has been set up to effectively coordinate rescue and relief operations, he noted.
\n\u201cThe NFRCC is working on rehabilitation plans as the flood waters recede. This is a national effort in which everyone is contributing, from individual Pakistanis from all spheres of life to businesses, civil society, and humanitarian organizations, besides civil and military administrations.\u201d
\nThe Pakistani government has listed the number of casualties caused by the heavy rainfall and floods since mid-June at over 1,700.
\nRecalling a visit to Pakistan\u2019s flood-hit areas by UN secretary general, Sharif said Antonio Guterres \u201crepeatedly stated that countries like Pakistan, who have done almost nothing to contribute to global warming, do not deserve to be amongst the frontline countries impacted the most by climate change.\u201d
\n\u201cI reiterate his words that it is not just a matter of solidarity but a matter of justice. This phenomenon of death, devastation, and destruction is driven by climate change, the causes of which are global. Therefore, the response calls for international solidarity and collective action,\u201d said the Pakistani premier.
\nSharif said Pakistan\u2019s \u201clongstanding and broad-based relationship\u201d with the US is \u201ccommitted to deepen and widen.\u201d
\n\u201cIn recent months, engagement between both countries has been quite productive and substantial. Our interactions at various levels have intensified, which manifests in that the relationship is strengthening,\u201d Sharif said in response to questions from Anadolu Agency.
\nRecalling a recent interaction with US President Joe Biden in New York, he said there had been \u201cseveral high-level visits including congressional delegations and by members of the (US) administration.\u201d
\n\u201cThese interactions have yielded positive results and further solidified our ties,\u201d he said, thanking Washington for its $97 million of support for Pakistani flood victims.
\nThe two countries, celebrating 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, are \u201ccharting out a promising course for the decades ahead,\u201d said Sharif.
\nHe called the US an \u201cimportant trading partner\u201d and added that the two countries were \u201cexploring more ways to strengthen bilateral trade and commercial ties.\u201d
\n\u201cSome of the US companies are doing quite well in Pakistan. We encourage major US companies to invest in Pakistan\u2019s lucrative market and enhance commercial ties, particularly in our growing IT sector,\u201d he said, encouraging more student exchanges between the two countries.
\nCommending the \u201cstrong Pakistani diaspora\u201d in the US, Sharif said they were \u201cacting as a bridge to deepen the ties between our two countries and the people.\u201d
\nPakistan is also cooperating closely with the US \u201cto promote peace and stability in Afghanistan,\u201d while also pursuing a foreign policy of \u201cfriendliness and goodwill towards all countries,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cPakistan has traditionally maintained good relations with the United States and China. Historically, it was Pakistan that acted as a bridge in opening up the relationship between the United States and the People\u2019s Republic of China,\u201d he noted.
\n\u201cWhile the Pakistan-China relationship is very special, Pakistan and the US have also maintained a longstanding historic bilateral relationship, which is broad-based in nature and covers all issues of mutual interest.
\n\u201cWe believe that constructive engagement with all countries can promote peace and security, as well as development and connectivity in the whole region. We look forward to remaining engaged with the international community for peace and stability in the region and beyond,\u201d said the Pakistani premier.
\nSharif said Pakistan \u201cstrongly believes that inter-state relations should be based on mutual respect and peaceful resolution of issues by upholding of principles of UN charter and international law.\u201d
\nOn relations with China, Sharif said his recent meetings with the Chinese leadership \u201cinjected new impetus in our joint efforts to ensure timely progress and implementation of major projects.\u201d
\n\u201cImportant understandings were reached on advancing flagship projects such as the Main Line I and Karachi Circular Railway (ML-I\/KCR) projects, as well as on the early implementation of the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation.
\n\u201cWe also agreed to step up cooperation in green energy, science and technology, and agriculture, which are all important building blocks of CPEC\u2019s (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) high-quality development,\u201d he said.
\nSharif underscored that Pakistan always \u201caccorded high priority to the security and safety of our international partners in development.\u201d
\n\u201cWe have enhanced measures to maintain a safe and secure environment, which remains essential for investment and socioeconomic development.
\n\u201cBoth Pakistan and China are mindful of the complex regional environment and the risks it poses. We will continue to exercise heightened vigilance and ensure that our detractors\u2019 nefarious designs will fail,\u201d Sharif added.
\nOn whether resolving the dispute over the Kashmir region remains a condition for resuming normal ties between Islamabad and New Delhi, Sharif said Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy was \u201cone of friendliness and goodwill towards all.\u201d
\n\u201cWe want good relations with all neighbors, including India,\u201d said the prime minister.
\nHowever, he stressed that for \u201ccomplete normalization\u201d of relations, including the revival of trade ties, India must \u201creverse its actions\u201d of Aug. 5, 2019, when New Delhi revoked the limited autonomy of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
\nSharif also said India must end its \u201cstate terrorism\u201d in Indian-administered Kashmir and not seek \u201cdemographic changes in the occupied territory to perpetuate its illegal occupation.\u201d
\nReferring to his inaugural address as prime minister, Sharif said he \u201creiterated our desire for maintaining \u2018good ties\u2019 with India.
\n\u201cWe, however, strongly believe that durable peace cannot be achieved without a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.\u201d
\nSharif added that the \u201cillegal and unilateral actions\u201d of Aug. 5, 2019, and the subsequent steps in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir \u201chave further vitiated the environment.\u201d
\n\u201cThe onus remains on India to create a conducive environment for meaningful engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday Pakistan and T\u00fcrkiye should work together and deepen their partnership through collective research and joint development. \u201cWe believe that Pakistan and T\u00fcrkiye should work together and deepen their partnership through collective research and joint development and pooling of resources,\u201d Shehbaz Sharif told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[20,5822,3590],"class_list":{"0":"post-297820","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-pakistan","9":"tag-pm-shehbaz-sharif","10":"tag-resources"},"yoast_head":"\n