Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was warmly welcomed with a grand guard of honour at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Thursday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif greeted President Erdogan at the main entrance, where the national anthems of both countries were played, and a contingent of the armed forces presented a guard of honour.
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The Turkish president’s motorcade was greeted with vibrant displays of flags from both nations and welcoming banners along Constitution Avenue. Local artists performed traditional folk dances, including the symbolic dance of whirling dervishes, popular in Turkish culture.
During the formal welcome reception, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz introduced their respective delegations before proceeding to a bilateral meeting. President Erdogan also planted a pine tree sapling in the PM House lawns to mark the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
The visit includes the 7th session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), where both leaders will discuss bilateral cooperation in multiple fields. The Turkish president’s visit to Pakistan is part of his overseas tour, which included stops in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The visit underscores the enduring partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye, aiming to strengthen ties in areas such as trade, defense, and cultural exchange, fostering greater unity and collaboration between the two nations.
