Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visits Turkey for economic and energy talks

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul on 3 July for a working visit at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The leaders held a bilateral meeting at the presidential office, followed by a joint press conference and a working dinner.

The agenda covered trade, investment and joint projects in four priority areas: information and telecommunications, petroleum and mineral resources, a special economic zone to be allocated in Turkey, and the privatisation of Pakistani electricity distribution companies. Discussions also addressed transport cooperation, including the proposed Ankara‑Islamabad rail link and broader regional corridor projects.

A Turkey‑Pakistan Business Forum is planned, bringing together businesspeople and ministers to explore opportunities that could raise bilateral trade, which exceeded $1.2 billion last year, to a target of $5 billion. The visit builds on agreements signed during Erdogan’s 2022 South‑Asia tour and Sharif’s previous trips to Turkey.