Turkey, Pakistan sign healthcare deal

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey and Pakistan have signed a new deal on healthcare cooperation.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Friday, Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the two countries would share knowledge, personnel and expertise.

“We have signed a very comprehensive agreement aiming at improving health facilities such as health management, service of patients, procurement of medicine, drop-testing labs, training nurses etc.,” Sharif said.

Sharif also commented on Turkey-Pakistan relations, saying: “We have a bright and secure future.”

“We were the first nation in the world to issue condemnation over the [July 15] coup attempt,” he added.

Regarding Gulen-linked schools in Pakistan, Sharif said: “When [Turkey’s] AK Party parted ways from the Gulenists, we stopped further expansion of the schools in Punjab. In fact, we cancelled a couple of permissions for them to establish a university. All [Gulen] schools are taken away from Punjab,” he said.

“Nothing can be supported in Pakistan [which is] against Turkey. Turkey’s enemies are our enemies,” he added.

Turkey has also been helping Pakistan train its special forces to combat terrorism. Sharif confirmed that Turkish police train counter-terrorism and Dolphin Force police teams in Punjab.

Sharif is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Istanbul on Saturday.