World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey and Pakistan signed nine agreements including a joint statement envisaging high-level cooperation between the two countries.

Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz and Environment & Urbanization Minister Erdogan Bayraktar signed the agreements.

The two countries put signatures on joint economic committee protocol, agreement on cooperation on renewable energy, framework agreement on cooperation on highway transportation, agreement on incentives of mutual investments, protocol on cooperation on archives, memorandum of understanding on establishment of technopark between ODTU and Quaid-i Azam University, memorandum of understanding on urbanization, and an agreement between Karachi Municipality and Albayrak Holding.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Pakistan, was formally welcomed by his Pakistani counterpart earlier in the day.

Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani held a joint press conference. Acting President & Chairman of the Pakistani Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari will decorate Erdogan with an honorary doctorate degree at the Quaid-i Azam University in Islamabad.

Erdogan will separately receive the leader of the main opposition Nawaz Sharif and Chairperson of Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan.

Following the completion of his talks, Erdogan will proceed to Kazakhstan.

"Special incentive packages for Turks"

Turkey and Pakistan will continue mutual cooperation in both regional and international forums, said a Turkey-Pakistan Joint Declaration at the end of the second meeting of Turkey-Pakistan High Level Cooperation Council in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Relations between Turkey and Pakistan that have passed through the test of time and crossed over geographical distances are on their way to a strong and strategic partnership, the joint declaration stated.

Pakistan will create special incentive packages and Special Investment Zones for Turkish companies, the joint declaration said.

Security establishments of the two countries will increase cooperation against terror and illegal drug trafficking, the joint declaration noted.

In order to stress common cultural points and deep rooted historic ties, 2013-2014 will be celebrated as cultural years in both countries, the joint declaration also said.