Istanbul: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened at Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul to reaffirm their nations’ commitment to bolstering bilateral cooperation, focusing on trade, investment, and energy sectors. The leaders also reiterated their support for each other’s core issues and discussed significant regional and global developments.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, alongside other ministers and senior officials from both countries. The leaders expressed a shared resolve to enhance collaboration in offshore and onshore petroleum exploration, mines and minerals, and information technology. They also reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the mutually agreed target of $5 billion in bilateral trade.

President Erdogan acknowledged Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, which facilitated the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s support in Pakistan’s peace initiatives. Both leaders emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic coordination to ensure lasting peace in the region.

An invitation was extended by Prime Minister Sharif to President Erdogan for a visit to Pakistan, underscoring the continued partnership between the two nations.