Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday landed in Istanbul, Turkey, on a two-day official visit to further enhance Pakistan-Turkey ties.
The Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by Turkish Defence Minister and top officials upon his arrival, which began a high-level diplomatic interaction.
Flanked by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir, PM Shehbaz Sharif traveled to the historic Dolmabahçe Palace for an official meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two countries' leaders engaged in delegation-level meetings, accompanied by senior Pakistani representatives such as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi.
In a significant display of mutual respect and shared vision, President Erdogan hosted a special dinner in honor of the Pakistani delegation. During the talks, both sides reaffirmed their strong and historic Pakistan-Turkey relations, emphasizing shared values, mutual respect, and a common goal for peace and prosperity in the region.
PM Shehbaz thanked the Turkish people and leadership for their support during the recent tensions in South Asia, particularly against India's belligerent approach. He lauded the principled positions of Turkey and referred to the goodwill of the Turkish people as a source of strength for Pakistan.
The session also laid emphasis on the courage and nationalism of the Pakistani military in domestic defense operations such as "Operation Bunyad-e-Marsus" and "Battle for Truth." PM Shehbaz stressed intensifying economic collaboration, particularly via common undertakings and higher two-way investments.
Major sectors such as renewable energy, information and communication technology, defense industries, infrastructure, and agriculture were all recognized as areas of common interest with enormous opportunities for expansion. The leaders had a thorough review of existing partnerships and reaffirmed their intentions to raise their goals of strategic partnership to higher levels.
The two sides also reviewed progress on decisions taken during the 7th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Islamabad on February 13, 2025. Both countries agreed to work actively toward achieving the ambitious target of $5 billion in bilateral trade volume.
Global and regional matters, including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, were discussed at length. Both leaders reiterated their countries’ principled support for each other’s core interests and demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, along with uninterrupted humanitarian aid for the affected Palestinian population.
In closing, both leaders expressed a strong commitment to enhancing multifaceted cooperation across all sectors and working closely for regional peace, sustainable development, and the shared prosperity of their peoples.
