Pak, Turkish media bonds to reinforce ties, says Memon
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Nisar A. Memon has said that strong Pak-Turkish media bonds would further improve the bilateral ties between the two countries besides strengthening exemplary people-to-people contacts.
“Turkey and Pakistan have analogous historical, geographic, cultural, religious and lingual relations and enhanced media ties of both the countries can further cement these bonds. Keeping in view the modern trends, there is a dire need for both the brotherly states to collaborate in the electronic and print media fields. Pakistan and Turkey can collaborate in the projects of co-productions of programmes for television and radio channels, joint workshops on media interaction and other projects,” he said while talking to a media delegation from Turkey.
The Turkish media delegation included Mr. Ibrahim Turkman, Mr. Bahadir Salim, Mr. Ogun Dutu and Mr. Fatih. Additional Secretary Fazal-ur-Rehman Malik, Managing Director PTV Yusuf Baig Mirza, Managing Director APP Rai Riaz Hussain, Director General EP Wing Mansoor Sohail, PIO Rashid Ahmad and other officials of the Ministry were also present.
Nisar Memon said that strong media bonds can play a vital role in fostering the already strong people-to-people contacts between the two countries. He said the PTV and Radio Pakistan (PBC) can collaborate with the state-owned Turkish TV channel, while the APP can collaborate with Anadolu, the official Turkish news agency, besides others.
“The government and people of Pakistan wish the progress and prosperity of our Turkish brethren. Pakistan always been supporting the Turkey on the issue of Cyprus, while Turkey has extended its consistent and continued support to Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir at all the international fora including the United Nations,” he said.
The Minister said that Pakistani government and its people had extended a warm welcome to the Turkish President Abdullah Gul during his recent visit to Pakistan and we hope that this would further cement the bilateral relations between the two brotherly states in economic, trade and other fields.
Stressing the need for promotion of the knowledge of Turkish and Urdu languages in both the countries, Senator Memon said that the knowledge of bilateral languages would bring the peoples of both the countries closer. He said that the think-tanks of Pakistan and Turkey and other related organizations must work on these lines.
The Minister briefed the delegates on the measures being taken by the caretaker government to ensure holding of fair, free and transparent general elections in a secure environment in the country.
While expressing gratitude for kind hospitality by Pakistani authorities, the delegation leader Ibrahim Turkman said that the delegation was pleasantly surprised by the economic and industrial growth achieved by Pakistan during the recent times.
“Unfortunately, the western media reflects a gory picture of Pakistan. When we were coming to Pakistan, we were expecting an enormous situation in the country as we were told that the country was passing through an emergency situation. But we were surprised to see the normal and routine life here.”