Pakistan welcomes Turkish PM Erdoğan with cultural show

LAHORE - Anadolu Agency

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a Grand Cultural Show at historical Atchison College today after arriving in Pakistan’s second largest city Lahore on Dec. 23 for an official two-day visit.

He was accompanied by Chief Minister of Punjab province Shahbaz Sharif as a military contingent fired a 19-gun salute of welcome after fireworks. Rose petals were scattered on the roads which the prime minister was set to travel through, and Erdoğan was welcomed with dances and music in the biggest welcoming ceremony held in Lahore.

Erdoğan was presented a guard of honor by a traditionally-clad contingent of the paramilitary Rangers force. The Grand Cultural Show was organized in honor of Erdoğan, who showed interest in the ornaments and inquired about historic and cultural details.

Horse given as gift

Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, presented a horse to Erdoğan as a gift. Earlier on his arrival at Allama Iqbal International airport in the country’s cultural hub Lahore, a military ceremony was held in honor of Erdoğan, who was welcomed by Shahbaz Sharif and Turkey’s ambassador in Islamabad Babür Girgin.

Erdoğan is being accompanied by Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım and two deputy chairmen of his Justice and Development Party (AKP), Numan Kurtulmuş and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

He will spend a busy day tomorrow in the capital Islamabad, where he will meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who has recently visited Turkey last month. Erdoğan will also attend a reception to be hosted by President Mamnoon Hussein in his honor.