Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharifs recent visit to brotherly Muslim country Turkey should be taken as a welcome step in the wider economic context.
Pakistan is a continued victim of the 9/11 incident which has weakened us from within. We are the target of terrorism and a victim of economic compulsions resulting due to lack of energy resources. This recent step is in the right direction. It may achieve many successes.
Punjab government signed multiple agreements with Turkish government in different fields like environment, education and trade. Turkey has agreed to set up a 150 MW power plant in Punjab, besides setting up a new University in Lahore while Turkish Fateh University will provide technical support for the improvement of education sector under a memorandum of understanding (MoU). It is also expected that Punjab will get necessary technical support and assistance to dispose of its rising solid waste management in big cities.
We are living in an age of endless possibilities and economic cooperation; yesterdays foes are becoming new trade partners and the world is experiencing new avenues of business cooperation. On the other hand, Pakistan is left alone due to our inept rulers and their consecutive failures to reap new opportunities vis–vis India.
Pakistan also needs more economic opportunities to provide jobs to the jobless. It is expected that his economic diplomacy will also help in improving other sectors like environment, industry and education.
I wish national leadership should espouse this option of economic diplomacy in their foreign tours which are made at the tax-payers money.
QUDRAT ULLAH
Lahore
