President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade volume to $5 billion during a joint press conference in Istanbul. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting prior to the briefing, discussing global and regional issues alongside trade and investment cooperation.
Erdogan emphasized Turkiye’s ongoing solidarity with Pakistan across all sectors, highlighting collaborative steps to strengthen economic ties. He also praised Pakistan’s mediation role in the recent US-Iran agreement, attributing global relief to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June.
Sharif, addressing a Pakistan-Turkiye business conference, hailed Turkiye as a “steadfast ally,” referencing historical bonds dating to Turkiye’s War of Independence. He underscored the need to transform diplomatic ties into concrete economic partnerships, particularly in sectors like energy, IT, and infrastructure.
The discussions included opportunities in special economic zones (SEZs), digital infrastructure, and strategic investments. Turkish business leaders expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic outlook, with companies like Çalık Holding and Turkcell exploring collaborations in telecommunications and 5G deployment. Sharif also highlighted Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies and the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in streamlining investments.
Erdogan condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, calling for regional peace and stability. The visit concluded with delegation-level talks aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation, with Sharif invited to lead a business delegation to Pakistan.
