Istanbul, July 5, 2026 – The Europe Today: Pakistan and Türkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to US$5 billion, while agreeing to expand cooperation in investment, special economic zones, defence, energy, transportation, critical minerals and information technology.
The commitment was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on Saturday, followed by a joint press conference.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Türkiye’s remarkable progress under President Erdoğan’s leadership and described the friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye as historic and deeply rooted in shared faith, culture and mutual trust.
The Prime Minister said comprehensive discussions were held on strengthening bilateral economic ties, including enhancing investment in special economic zones. He noted that meetings with Turkish business leaders at a business-to-business (B2B) forum had further reinforced prospects for expanding trade and investment.
“We are determined to achieve the target of US$5 billion in bilateral trade volume,” the Prime Minister said.
Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted the close coordination between the two countries on regional and international issues. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Türkiye’s position on the Cyprus issue and expressed gratitude for Ankara’s consistent support for Pakistan’s stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
He stressed that both countries should give a new dimension to their strategic partnership, saying Pakistan’s success was Türkiye’s success and Türkiye’s progress was Pakistan’s progress.
The Prime Minister thanked President Erdoğan for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation. Describing Istanbul as a city that beautifully bridges East and West, he said the peoples of Pakistan and Türkiye share a unique bond strengthened by history, sacrifices and enduring brotherhood.
Recalling historical ties, Shehbaz Sharif noted the support extended by Muslims of the Indian subcontinent to Türkiye during its War of Independence and praised Türkiye’s assistance to Pakistan during natural disasters, particularly the devastating floods. He specifically acknowledged President Erdoğan’s visit to flood-affected Muzaffargarh and appreciated Türkiye’s contributions in building hospitals, schools and supporting Pakistan’s social and economic development.
The Prime Minister said the philosophies of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Allama Muhammad Iqbal continue to inspire the close relationship between the two nations.
Addressing the joint press conference, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the recent bus accident in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
He said discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif covered bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments. President Erdoğan welcomed recent diplomatic efforts that have contributed to reducing regional tensions and reiterated Türkiye’s support for resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.
The Turkish President also voiced concern over ongoing developments in the Middle East, condemning continued attacks on Gaza and emphasizing Türkiye’s commitment to promoting peace, stability and security across the region in cooperation with friendly countries, particularly Pakistan.
President Erdoğan reaffirmed the shared goal of raising bilateral trade to US$5 billion, stating that both countries’ trade ministries are working on establishing a special economic zone in Karachi to facilitate Turkish investment, while negotiations are also continuing to expand the scope of the existing preferential trade agreement.
He expressed confidence that the business forum attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would further strengthen commercial and investment relations and encouraged Turkish investors to expand their presence in Pakistan.
President Erdoğan described defence cooperation as one of the pillars of bilateral economic relations, noting that joint defence projects continue to advance steadily. He also reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of energy, transport, critical minerals and information technology as part of efforts to further strengthen the longstanding strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations.
