PM Shehbaz Sharif Embarks on Two-Day Visit to Turkiye to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for a two-day official visit to Turkiye on Tuesday, following an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a report by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Pakistan and Turkiye share a deep-rooted relationship founded on common cultural, historical, and religious ties. Their partnership spans across key sectors such as defense, trade, and diplomacy. Both nations have consistently supported each other on critical international matters, including the Kashmir and Cyprus issues, solidifying their strategic alliance.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to engage in in-depth talks with Turkish leaders, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and reviewing regional and global developments.
Highlighting the longstanding brotherhood between the two nations, the report noted that Pakistan and Turkiye have maintained a strong tradition of high-level engagements, reflecting their close partnership.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi.
This visit is seen as a continuation of ongoing dialogue between the two countries, with both sides aiming to further enhance their broad-based cooperation.
One of the key platforms for collaboration is the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), a bilateral forum established in 2009 to coordinate joint efforts in areas such as trade, investment, defense, health, education, energy, and agriculture.
The most recent (seventh) session of the HLSCC took place in Islamabad on February 12–13, co-chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Erdogan. During that session, both nations agreed to expand the scope of their goods trade agreement, with a vision to reach $5 billion in bilateral trade. They also discussed the creation of a special economic zone in Pakistan for Turkish businesses.
Earlier this year, President Asif Ali Zardari met with President Erdogan during a stopover in Istanbul. Later in February, President Erdogan paid an official visit to Pakistan, where both countries pledged to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation in separate high-level meetings.
