ISTANBUL (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday reaffirmed the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, pledging to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, defence, energy and technology while reiterating their commitment to raising annual bilateral trade to $5 billion.
Addressing a joint press conference in Istanbul after delegation-level talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz described Pakistan and Türkiye as “two hearts with one soul,” saying the historic relationship between the two nations was entering a new era of stronger economic collaboration and strategic cooperation.
The premier termed his discussions with President Erdoğan comprehensive and productive, saying both sides reviewed concrete measures to accelerate trade, industrial collaboration and investment.
“We expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation while identifying practical steps to unlock the full potential of our economic partnership,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the immense goodwill between the two countries provided a strong foundation to achieve the mutually agreed target of $5 billion in bilateral trade, adding that the decisions taken during the visit would be translated into practical outcomes instead of remaining limited to official declarations.
Support on Core National Issues
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support for Türkiye on issues of national importance, including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while expressing gratitude for Ankara’s consistent support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their right to self-determination.
He stressed that both countries shared the belief that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect remained the only sustainable path to resolving regional disputes and ensuring lasting peace.
Shehbaz also thanked Türkiye for supporting Pakistan’s peace diplomacy, particularly its backing for efforts that culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 18, which helped end the recent United States-Iran conflict.
“The future of Pakistan-Türkiye relations is exceptionally bright. Türkiye’s success is Pakistan’s success, and Pakistan’s progress is Türkiye’s progress,” the prime minister remarked.
Historic Brotherhood Highlighted
Recalling the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistanis had always considered Türkiye close to their hearts, just as the Turkish people had consistently stood beside Pakistan during every difficult period.
He referred to the support extended by Muslims of the subcontinent during Türkiye’s War of Independence, when families donated jewellery and savings to assist the Turkish struggle.
The premier also praised Türkiye’s humanitarian assistance during Pakistan’s natural disasters, recalling President Erdoğan’s visits to flood-affected areas and First Lady Emine Erdoğan’s donation of her personal jewellery for flood victims.
He highlighted Türkiye’s contribution to rebuilding affected communities through hospitals, schools and model villages in Muzaffargarh, describing these projects as lasting symbols of brotherhood between the two nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also commended President Erdoğan’s leadership, saying Türkiye had witnessed remarkable economic, technological and strategic transformation during the past two decades under his administration.
Erdogan Reaffirms Economic Partnership
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye and Pakistan remained committed to strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors and reaffirmed the shared goal of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion annually.
He said discussions focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, defence production, energy, transportation, information technology and critical minerals.
The Turkish president disclosed that both countries were working on establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi for Turkish investors while negotiations were also underway to broaden the scope of the existing Preferential Trade Agreement.
He encouraged Turkish investors to increase their presence in Pakistan, expressing confidence that the Pakistan-Türkiye Business Forum would generate new investment opportunities.
Erdoğan described defence cooperation as one of the strongest pillars of bilateral economic relations, adding that several joint projects were progressing steadily.
He also expressed Türkiye’s desire to deepen cooperation in energy, transport, mining, information technology and digital infrastructure.
Peace Efforts and Regional Issues
President Erdoğan praised Pakistan’s role in mediating between the United States and Iran, saying the Islamabad MoU had significantly contributed to reducing regional tensions.
He congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Pakistani people for their diplomatic efforts, while reaffirming Türkiye’s support for initiatives aimed at resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue.
The Turkish president warned against attempts to undermine regional peace and said Ankara remained committed to working alongside Pakistan and other friendly countries to promote stability and prosperity.
He also expressed condolences over Friday’s tragic road accident near the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border that claimed dozens of lives.
High-Level Bilateral Meeting
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Erdoğan held extensive talks at the Vahdettin Palace, attended by senior ministers and officials from both countries.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, energy, petroleum exploration, mining, information technology and regional affairs.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the $5 billion trade target while expressing satisfaction over the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
The Turkish president appreciated Pakistan’s mediation role in the Iran-US peace process, while both leaders agreed to continue close diplomatic coordination for regional peace.
The two countries also reiterated their unwavering support for each other’s core national interests.
Prime Minister Shehbaz invited President Erdoğan to visit Pakistan during the eighth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), scheduled to be held later this year.
Business Leaders Invited to Invest
Addressing the Pakistan-Türkiye Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference in Istanbul, Prime Minister Shehbaz invited Turkish companies to expand investments in Pakistan’s energy, mining, infrastructure, ports, logistics, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture and privatisation sectors.
He assured investors that Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators and investor-friendly policies offered attractive business opportunities, while the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) would continue providing one-window facilitation to foreign investors.
During meetings with leading Turkish companies, including Çalık Holding, Albayrak Group, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), and telecommunications giant Turkcell, the prime minister proposed expanding cooperation in digital infrastructure, 5G technology, software development, telecommunications equipment manufacturing and technology transfer.
He also proposed establishing a Pakistan–Türkiye Digital Corridor to strengthen regional digital connectivity and promote innovation and investment in emerging technologies.
Turkish business leaders expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic outlook and reaffirmed their interest in expanding long-term investments across strategic sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Istanbul on Friday on an official visit at President Erdoğan’s invitation after attending the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
