Pakistan, Turkey pledge stronger economic ties during Shehbaz’s Istanbul visit

HYDERABAD: Pakistan and Turkey pledged to build stronger economic ties during talks between prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday.

Besides discussing bilateral and regional issues with Erdogan, the Pakistani prime minister addressed a Pakistan-Turkiye business conference attended by major Turkish companies.

The two sides affirmed their goal of US$5 billion annual trade and explored cooperation in areas such as energy, transportation, critical minerals, and digital technologies.

Shehbaz shared his government’s vision of establishing a Pakistan-Turkiye digital corridor to strengthen regional digital connectivity, facilitate secure cross-border data flows, and advance the integration of digital infrastructure in a meeting with Turkcell chief executive officer Ali Taha Koc, the Pakistan prime minister’s Office said in a statement.

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar as well as the ministers responsible for the maritime, power, petroleum, privatisation, information technology, and telecommunications portfolios discussed potential investment opportunities with Turkish companies on the sidelines of the business conference.

Top executives of conglomerate Koc Holding, home appliances maker Arcelik, gas distribution company Aygaz, and Demir Export were present.

“Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in energy, manufacturing, mining, and industrial investment, while exploring new opportunities to deepen the Pakistan-Turkiye economic partnership,” Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said on X.