LAHORE: The Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Lahore on a two -day official visit to Pakistan early on Monday morning.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif received the Turkish Chief Executive at the Allama Iqbal International Airport. The visiting premier is accompanied by prominent Turkish businessmen.

The members of the provincial cabinet and senior civil officers were also present on the occasion.

The Turkish Prime Minister was accorded a 21-cannon salute on his arrival while a beautiful display of fireworks was also held to welcome the guests.

Stringent security measures were made in the provincial metropolis overnight while security personnel were deployed on all the important city roads.

Shahbaz Sharif said on Dec 22, that the Pak-Turk friendship had entered into a new phase and the Punjab government would warmly welcome Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on his visit to the provincial capital.

He also said that the brotherly Islamic country had supported Pakistan in every hour of hardship, adding that financial and technical cooperation of Turkey in metro bus service, solid waste management and other sectors was commendable, which would further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations.

He said that Pakistan had centuries-old social, political, religious and trade ties with the Turkish people and added that the visit of Turkish Prime Minister to Pakistan would further fortify these ties.