ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday departed for a two-day official visit to Turkiye at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a high-level delegation, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Ishaq Dar, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his post on X on Tuesday said Pakistan and Turkiye share a unique and historic bond, deeply etched in the hearts of their people. He said both countries are united by trust and shared values.
The Prime Minister said we carry a common vision for peace, progress, and prosperity, and a partnership that has stood the test of time and continues to grow stronger with each passing day.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold extensive discussions with President Erdogan on bilateral relations.
Both leaders are also expected to exchange views on recent developments in the region and beyond.
“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,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
“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,” the statement added.
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.
Both leaders had also pledged to operationalise the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade corridor and strengthen collaboration in energy, finance, and digital trade.
“We have agreed with Prime Minister Sharif to continue our efforts to reach the $5 billion trade volume target between Turkiye and Pakistan,” Erdogan said.
“To this end, we are expanding the scope of our current goods trade agreement as a first step.”
Bilateral trade between Turkiye and Pakistan reached a record high of $1.4 billion in 2024, rising nearly 30% from the previous year.
Both leaders expressed optimism about building on this momentum, with Erdogan urging Turkish investors to engage more actively in Pakistan’s growing market.
