Turkey and Pakistan pledge $5 billion trade target

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met in Istanbul on 4‑5 July 2026 and reaffirmed their commitment to raise bilateral trade to US$5 billion. The leaders discussed expanding cooperation in investment, special economic zones, defence, energy, strategic minerals and information technology, and highlighted joint support for regional diplomatic initiatives.

Turkey’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat noted that current Turkey‑Pakistan trade stands at US$1.2‑1.3 billion and that Turkish direct investment in Pakistan has surpassed US$2 billion, including 74 infrastructure projects worth about US$3.5 billion. He said negotiations are under way to broaden the 2023 preferential trade agreement to cover more products and services. Deputy President Cevdet Yılmaz echoed the $5 billion goal and stressed the need to deepen collaboration across manufacturing, logistics and digital economies. Both officials invoked the historic cultural and humanitarian ties that have linked the two nations for decades.