ANKARA, 4 January 2013:  Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to form a “Social Protection & Family Policy” working group that shall share experiences and best practices for social welfare of the vulnerable groups.This was discussed in a meeting here today between the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Social Welfare, Special Education & Women Empowerment Ms. Sitara Ayaz and Sindh Minister for for Social Welfare Ms Nergis N.D. Khan. Turkish Minister for Family & Social Policy Ms Fatma Şahin and Pakistan Ambassador in Turkey Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat were also present in the meeting.

Ms Sitara Ayaz briefed the Turkish Prime Minister about the steps taken by her government to rehabilitate the terrorism affected families. The Turkish Prime Minister offered that Turkish Government will establish a model orphanage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Ms Nergis N.D. Khan briefed the host about her government’s welfare projects for the vulnerable groups.

The visiting Pakistani Ministers earlier attended a two days “International Conference on Family & Social Policies” organized by the Turkish Government. They also met with Ms Fatma Şahin and discussed proposals to enhance cooperation and sharing experiences and best practices for social protection of vulnerable groups in both Pakistani and Turkish societies. Ms Sitara Ayaz reiterated her earlier invitation extended to Ms Fatima Şahin and her Deputy Minister Prof. Dr. Ashkin Asan to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at their earliest convenience.