Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leaves for Turkiye on a two-day official visit on the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, a high-level delegation is accompanying him, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet President Erdogan for detailed talks on bilateral ties. Both leaders are expected to also discuss recent regional and global developments. The press release stated, “As long-standing allies and strategic partners, Pakistan and Turkiye maintain a tradition of regular high-level exchanges, reflecting the exceptional bonds of brotherhood between the two nations.” It further added, “The upcoming meeting represents a continuation of this robust dialogue and underscores the shared commitment to further elevate the multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye.”
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This visit follows President Erdogan’s trip to Islamabad in February, where he co-chaired the 7th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC). During that session, Pakistan and Turkiye signed 24 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreed to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion.
Some key agreements involved expanding the Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA), strengthening defence ties, and encouraging Turkish investment in Pakistan. Both sides also agreed to operationalise the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade corridor and deepen cooperation in energy, finance, and digital trade.
Erdogan had said, “We have agreed with Prime Minister Sharif to continue our efforts to reach the $5 billion trade volume target between Turkiye and Pakistan. To this end, we are expanding the scope of our current goods trade agreement as a first step.”
In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries rose by nearly 30% from the previous year and reached a record high of $1.4 billion. Both leaders are hopeful to maintain this momentum, with Erdogan urging more Turkish firms to invest in Pakistan’s market.
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