ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Pakistan was seeking more Turkish investments in multifarious sectors and was ready to offer special incentive package and exclusive investment zone for Turkish entrepreneurs and companies.

Speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Gilani said, “Pakistan would warmly welcome more Turkish investments in infrastructure including energy, construction and communication as well as in urban development and agriculture sectors.”

“We are ready to consider a special incentives package and establishment of an exclusive investment zone for Turkish entrepreneurs and companies desirous of setting up their businesses in Pakistan,” he added.

He said, “We also desire more active engagement in cultural and educational fields. Pakistani students would like to benefit from the excellence that Turkey has achieved in higher education especially, in science and technology.”

The prime minister said, “in order to promote active linkages between private industry and the academia, our educational institutions could collaborate in setting up joint technology incubators and Techno-parks to undertake research and development projects.”

He said that he was convinced that the second high level cooperation council (HLCC) would set a new roadmap for expanding their strategic partneership especially in economic and commercial filds.

Appraising Erdogan’s policies in Turkey, Gilani said “The people-centric policies and the welfare agenda of your government have made a deep impact in improving the lives of ordinary citizens in Turkey. We would like to learn from Turkey's experience.”

“The people of Pakistan cannot forget the support and affection demonstrated by you and Madam Emine Erdogan for the victims of 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods,” Prime Minister Gilani added.

Gilani said Pakistan attaches great importance to strengthening bilateral economic and commercial relations with Turkey.

“We have been strongly advocating for the establishment of mutually agreed facilitative frameworks to provide opportunities to our businessmen,” he added.F

The prime minister expressed the confidence that signing of a comprehensive and meaningful preferential trade agreement (PTA), which provides comparative advantage to entrepreneurs and businessmen from both countries, will result in a substantial increase in the bilateral trade.