Turkey and Pakistan have reached a significant agreement to expand their economic cooperation, aiming to bolster bilateral trade and strategic partnerships.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Turkish media reports, the agreement was solidified during the official visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Turkey. During high-level discussions, both leaders emphasized the necessity of deepening economic ties and strengthening their strategic alliance. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to increasing the annual bilateral trade volume to a target of $5 billion.
At the Pakistan–Turkey Business Conference held in Istanbul, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar invited Turkish companies to invest in key sectors, including energy, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, tourism, information technology, and the defense industry. Dar highlighted that ongoing economic reforms in Pakistan are designed to create a more favorable business environment for international investors. Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan encouraged Turkish investors to expand their operations in Pakistan, noting that efforts are underway to establish a Special Economic Zone for Turkish companies in Karachi.
The discussions also covered future cooperation in digital infrastructure, including the creation of a "Pakistan–Turkey Digital Corridor," the implementation of 5G technologies, and collaboration in software development. Beyond economic matters, the leaders exchanged views on regional security. Pakistan reiterated its support for Turkey's position regarding the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while Ankara reaffirmed its support for Pakistan's stance on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. This partnership reflects the long-standing, deep-rooted diplomatic and cultural ties between the two nations, which have historically collaborated on both regional security and economic development initiatives.
