PM Shehbaz Sharif to Visit Ankara for High-Level Talks with President Erdogan

Erdogan, Shehbaz Vow to Boost Pakistan-Turkiye Trade to $5 Billion

By DTD- On Apr 21, 2025

ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a two-day official visit to Ankara on Tuesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for comprehensive talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing key regional and global developments.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the leaders will engage in wide-ranging discussions on bilateral cooperation and review recent developments in the region. The visit underscores the deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye.

“As longstanding allies and strategic partners, Pakistan and Turkiye maintain a tradition of regular high-level exchanges, reflecting the exceptional bonds of brotherhood between the two nations,” the Foreign Office noted.

A key highlight of the relationship is the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), the apex decision-making platform established in 2009 to guide bilateral relations across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, defence, energy, health, education, and agriculture.

The 7th session of the HLSCC was held in Islamabad in February 2025 and was co-chaired by President Erdogan and PM Shehbaz. The upcoming visit marks a continuation of this strategic dialogue and aims to further elevate the multifaceted partnership.

The visit follows Erdogan’s earlier trip to Islamabad in February 2025, during which both nations signed 24 MoUs and committed to boosting bilateral trade to $5 billion. The agreements focused on expanding the Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA), deepening defence collaboration, and encouraging Turkish investment in Pakistan.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their intention to operationalise the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade corridor and increase cooperation in energy, finance, and digital trade.

“In our discussions, we agreed to continue our efforts to reach the $5 billion trade volume target between Turkiye and Pakistan,” President Erdogan had said, adding that expanding the scope of the current trade agreement would be the first step in this direction.

Bilateral trade between the two nations reached a record $1.4 billion in 2024, a nearly 30% increase from the previous year.

Both leaders are expected to review progress on ongoing projects and explore new avenues for collaboration during this high-level engagement in Ankara.