Daily Times

Karachi: Murat Mustafa Onart, Consul General of Turkey, has said that a Turkish consulate in Lahore was planned to enhance visa issuance capacity in Pakistan.

Addressing members of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan TAAP, Onart said that the Turkish mission in Pakistan was further considering to expand the visa processing system.

He stated that the Turkish foreign mission in Pakistan has taken measures to enhance visa issuance capacity. In this connection, as a pilot project, a drop box, has been introduced for processing visa applications and submitting to the embassy and consulate. “The relationship between Pakistan and Turkey are historic and date-back to the Khilafat Movement. The people of Pakistan and Turkey have great respect for each other with relations based on friendship, harmony and goodwill”, Onart said.

Muhammad Naeem Sharif, Chairman, TAAP said “Turkey is the preferred destination for Pakistani tourists. Pakistan and Turkey are two friendly countries bonded by very strong religious and cultural affinities and brotherhood. Both sides enjoy cordial bilateral relations in the realm of foreign policy, International relations, defence cooperation, bilateral trade and commerce. Tourism is an area where a lot is yet to be done amid great existing potential.”

Exchanging views with the Turkish consul general who was accompanied by Fatih Atacan Temel, General Manager, Turkish Airlines, Chairman TAAP highlighted the tourism potential of Pakistan and stressed the need to motivate Turkish tourists to visit Pakistan.

Naeem Sharif viewed that TAAP considers Turkey as a gateway to Europe and Pakistan as a gateway to Central Asia, China and South Asia. Therefore, a lot of collaboration can be done in tourism as well as trade. Successful implementation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be beneficial for Turkey as well.

Fatih Atacan Temel, General Manager Turkish Airlines, Anwar Rasheed, Vice Chairman TAAP, former Chairman Hanif Rinch, Noor Mohammad, Tafseer-ul-Islam, Jawed Akhter, Haji Moorad Members Executive Committee, Furqan Abdul Qadir, Naveed Siddiqui, Salim Iqbal Qureshi, Khubchand Ochani, Kalamuddin, Khawaja Jahanzeb Senior Members TAAP also participated in the meeting and exchanged views.