ISLAMABAD

Pakistan on Friday awarded Gen. Metin Gurak, the Turkish chief of General Staff, with one of the country’s highest military medals, an official statement said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military award) to Gurak at a special ceremony held at the President House in the capital Islamabad, said the statement.

The award was conferred in recognition of his illustrious services and contribution to strengthening Pakistan-Türkiye defense ties, it said.

The ceremony was also attended by Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mehmet Pacaci.

"Türkiye is a sincere friend of Pakistan and both countries have enjoyed deep fraternal ties, which needed to be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of the two sides," said Zardari.

He called for enhancing road and railway connectivity between the two countries to further promote people-to-people contacts between the countries.

Separately, a delegation of Turkish investors also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his office and discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan.

According to an official statement, Sharif welcomed the Turkish investors, stressing that Islamabad wants to further strengthen bilateral economic ties and trade partnerships.