Turkey and Pakistan aim to lift bilateral trade to $5 billion, pledge $2 billion in investments

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met in Istanbul for a joint press conference and a high‑level business forum attended by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır and other senior officials. They reaffirmed a strategic partnership and set a concrete goal of raising Turkey‑Pakistan trade from the current $1.2‑$1.3 billion to $5 billion.

The officials announced that Turkish direct investment in Pakistan has already surpassed $2 billion and that Turkish construction firms have completed 74 projects worth about $3.5 billion. Plans were discussed to create a dedicated zone for Turkish investors in Karachi’s industrial park and to expand the 2022‑2023 Turkey‑Pakistan Trade Agreement to cover services and investments.

Both sides highlighted Pakistan’s recent diplomatic mediation between the United States and Iran and reiterated political solidarity on regional issues. The meeting underscored a broader push to deepen cooperation in energy, transport, critical minerals and information‑technology sectors.