Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Thursday that Pakistan and Turkiye have set an ambitious target to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion in the near future.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Erdoğan said, “We have agreed with PM Shehbaz Sharif to intensify our efforts to reach the $5 billion trade volume target.”
Arriving in Islamabad late Wednesday night for a two-day visit, Erdoğan co-chaired the 7th session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) alongside PM Shehbaz.
He highlighted that the HLSCC, established in 2009, serves as the highest institutional mechanism for strengthening Pakistan-Turkiye solidarity.
“We have just concluded our seventh council meeting, reaffirming our commitment to strengthening relations. Under this framework, we signed 24 agreements covering trade, water resources, agriculture, energy, culture, science, banking, education, defense, and healthcare,” the Turkish president added.
Economic Cooperation and Counterterrorism Support
Erdoğan emphasized Turkiye’s commitment to encouraging its investors to play a more active role in Pakistan’s economy.
Additionally, he praised Pakistan’s sacrifices in combating terrorism and assured Turkiye’s continued support in counterterrorism efforts.
Turkiye’s Stance on Kashmir and Cyprus
The Turkish president reiterated Turkiye’s stance on the Kashmir issue, stating, “Turkiye’s support for resolving the Kashmir dispute through dialogue, based on UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, remains firm.”
He also expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Key Agreements Signed Between Pakistan and Turkiye
During Erdoğan’s visit, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Pakistan and Turkiye, covering:
- Economic and Trade Cooperation
- Defense and Military Partnership
- Energy Sector Collaboration
- Scientific and Technological Advancement
- Media and Cultural Exchanges
- Water, Agriculture, and Food Security
PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism that this visit would further strengthen the long-standing fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye.
