Islamabad: Pakistan and Türkiye have signed 21 new agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including trade, defense, energy, and technology.
The agreements were signed during a high-level ceremony attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Islamabad.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed President Erdoğan and expressed confidence that his visit would prove beneficial for both countries. He highlighted the deep-rooted historical ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, emphasizing that both nations share a strong brotherly relationship. The Prime Minister also acknowledged Türkiye’s unwavering support for Pakistan on key international issues, including Kashmir.
Shehbaz Sharif praised President Erdoğan’s leadership and his efforts in making Türkiye a model nation. He also commended Türkiye’s strong stance on the Palestinian issue and its continued support for the people of Gaza.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressing the gathering, expressed his delight at visiting Pakistan, calling it Türkiye’s "second home." He recalled the historic ties between the two countries, mentioning the admiration Turkish people have for Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal. He stressed that Türkiye is ready to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in multiple fields, including trade, defense, energy, and technology.
President Erdoğan urged both countries to expand bilateral trade to $5 billion and encouraged further investment and joint production initiatives. He also announced that Türkiye's electric car would soon be introduced in Pakistan and that he would personally present one as a gift to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
During the ceremony, senior ministers from both countries signed key agreements covering defense, military cooperation, energy, mining, banking, and food security. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and his Turkish counterpart signed MoUs on military and defense cooperation. Energy Minister Sardar Owais Leghari and his Turkish counterpart inked agreements in the energy and mining sectors. Similarly, Trade Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat signed trade and economic cooperation agreements.
Earlier, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding trade relations. Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat met with Pakistan’s Trade Minister Jam Kamal in Islamabad, where they discussed initiatives such as a "Made in Pakistan Expo" in Türkiye. The two sides also agreed to boost Pakistan’s Basmati rice exports to Türkiye and to strengthen the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries.
The meeting also covered discussions on enhancing defense collaboration, joint production, and technology exchange. Furthermore, upcoming trade expos in Lahore and Istanbul were identified as key opportunities to enhance business ties between the two nations.
