KEY POINTS
- Pakistan and Turkiye agreed to enhance cooperation in energy, mining, minerals, and IT
- PM Shehbaz and President Erdogan met in Ankara and reaffirmed bilateral ties.
- Both leaders expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire
- Erdogan praised Pakistan’s strong stance on the Palestinian issue
- PM Shehbaz lauded Turkiye’s support during Pakistan’s natural disasters and in counter-terrorism
- Bilateral trade reached a record $1.4 billion in 2024, with a target set at $5 billion
ANKARA, Turkiye: Pakistan and Turkiye on Tuesday stressed the importance of deepening economic collaboration in various key sectors such as energy, mining, minerals, and Information Technology, with a particular focus on joint ventures and bilateral investment.
The consensus was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Tuesday, Radio Pakistan reported.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the importance of enhancing economic collaboration, especially through joint ventures and bilateral investments.
He highlighted the potential for cooperation in the fields of energy and mining, joint ventures in defence and agri-production, enhancing regional and bilateral connectivity to boost trade and enhance people-to-people exchanges, and deepening cooperation in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and cyber-security.
During the meeting, both leaders took note of the follow-up actions taken with regard to the decisions of the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) held in Islamabad on 13 February 2025.
They expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of the multifaceted bilateral collaboration between the brotherly countries.
The two leaders also discussed regional and global matters and reaffirmed their support for each other on issues of national interest.
Pakistan Başbakanı Şahbaz Şerif ile Ortak Basın Toplantısı https://t.co/S9t8Fboz2t
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) April 22, 2025
They expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected Palestinian population.
Palestinian issue
After the meeting, both the leaders addressed a joint press conference. President Erdogan lauded Pakistan’s stance on the Palestinian issue, saying that Pakistan is one of the countries that reacted “most strongly” to the genocide in Gaza.
“I would like to once again express that we have always appreciated Pakistan’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue. Pakistan is also one of the countries that reacted most strongly to the genocide in Gaza,” Erdogan said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza while strongly condemning the loss of more than 50,000 innocent lives in the Palestinian territory.
Erdogan said that Pakistan has been supporting the just cause of Palestinians on various platforms, including the UN. He said that Ankara and Islamabad are determined to continue joint efforts for the resolution of the Palestinian issue in the future.
“We will continue to work together toward the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and with territorial integrity,” Erdogan further added.
At least 1,890 people have been killed in Gaza since the military resumed its offensive, bringing the total death toll since the war erupted to at least 51,266, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Speaking at the press conference, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to cooperate in various sectors, including energy, mining, minerals, and IT.
He said that President Erdogan is a visionary leader who has taken immense steps for the development of his country.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Turkiye has helped Pakistan in every difficult time, noting that after the floods of 2010 and 2022, Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Pakistan and also sent aid.
The Prime Minister further said that he is grateful for Turkiye’s cooperation in counter-terrorism. The time has come to start joint efforts against terrorism, he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Turkiye to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
The visit is being carried out at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
PM Shehbaz’s trip follows President Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad in February this year during which he co-chaired the 7th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) for cooperation and coordination on various issues of mutual interest.
During the session, the two nations signed 24 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and reaffirmed their commitment to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion.
Key agreements included expanding the Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA), enhancing defence cooperation, and facilitating Turkish investments in Pakistan.
Bilateral trade between Turkiye and Pakistan reached a record high of $1.4 billion in 2024, rising nearly 30% from the previous year.
