Aseefa Zardari excited driving electric vehicle gifted by Erdogan

ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gifted an electric vehicle to Pakistani dignitaries during his recent, two-day trip to the country.

Aseefa expressed her delight, as she drove the four-wheeler gifted to the President Asif Ali Zardari, and recalled the ‘unforgettable’ experience of driving the electric vehicle alongside the Turkish President.

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The Turkish president’s visit to Pakistan took place from February 12 to February 13, following an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Accompanied by a delegation comprising high-profile officials and several businessmen, Erdogan aimed to strengthen the relations between the two nations.

During the visit, Erdogan and Shehbaz co-chaired the seventh Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).

The session was used to increase the bilateral relations between the economically-weary countries, with expectation of signing a Joint Declaration and multiple agreements to foster cooperation across different sectors, including trade, investment and defence.

Erdogan’s discussions also encompassed the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He vocally condemned Israel’s atrocities in the occupied territory, and reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinians.

Speaking at a business forum in Islamabad, he criticised any proposals that aimed to displace Palestinians. The Turkish president declared that Gaza was an integral part of the Palestinian homeland and should remain so.

The remarks follow remarks by US President Donald Trump who stunned the entire world by advocating ethnic cleansing of Gaza. The controversial president stated neighbouring Arab countries should take in Palestinians in Gaza and to gentrify the enclave.

Trump even threatened military action if he ‘had’ to.

The Turkish president and the Pakistani prime minister also focussed on boosting trade relations, setting am ambitious target to elevate annual bilateral trade from $1.4 billion to $5 billion.

They signed 24 agreements aimed at improving economic and defense cooperation.

Read more: Turkish President Erdogan touches down in Pakistan for official visit

Erdogan also touched on the isolated Afghanistan, talking about the necessity of preventing the war-torn country from becoming a sanctuary for terrorist organisations. The two leaders called on the unrecognised Kabul administration to take ‘decisive’ actions against banned outfits, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).