ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to transforming its deep-rooted, fraternal ties with Istanbul into robust strategic partnership during a high-level meeting with visiting Turkish ministers.
Turkish delegation led by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in capital in meeting which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik, and other senior officials.
PM Sharif praised enduring brotherhood between Pakistan and Turkey, grounded in shared history, culture, and mutual respect. He expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to expand cooperation in key areas, including trade, investment, technology, and defense.
Referring to his recent engagements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, including their meeting during the 17th ECO Summit, Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s firm commitment to upgrading bilateral ties into a strategic partnership.
Prime Minister also welcomed convening of Pakistan-Turkey Joint Commission, co-chaired by Foreign Ministers Ishaq Dar and Hakan Fidan, expressing hope it would boost cooperation across multifaceted sectors.
In light of shifting regional and global dynamics, particularly situations in Gaza and Iran, PM Sharif highlighted importance of close coordination between Ankara and Islamabad, acknowledging Turkey’s steadfast support for Islamabad during recent tensions with New Delhi and conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the Turkish leadership and people.
He also stressed need for concrete efforts to boost bilateral trade and achieve mutually agreed target of $5 billion. He also invited Turkish companies to expand their presence in Pakistan, pointing to investor-friendly policies and structural reforms aimed at accelerating economic growth.
