Istanbul: Pakistan and Türkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership, setting an ambitious goal of achieving a $5 billion bilateral trade target. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the trade objective during a joint press conference in Istanbul, highlighting their nations’ shared history and mutual support during challenging times.

According to Radio Pakistan, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the deep bond between the two countries, which is built on a foundation of common history and shared values. He noted Türkiye’s steadfast support for Pakistan through wars, natural disasters, and other crises. Sharif also praised President Erdogan’s leadership, crediting him with Türkiye’s progress in economic, technological, and strategic arenas.

In their discussions, the leaders focused on enhancing trade, investment, and industrial collaboration. They also addressed regional peace efforts, with Prime Minister Sharif underscoring the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as outlined in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s continued support for Türkiye regarding the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and thanked Türkiye for its backing of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

President Erdogan congratulated Prime Minister Sharif on the successful mediation efforts leading to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he said brought relief to the international community. Erdogan also condemned ongoing violence in Gaza, urging for a peaceful resolution that involves sincere regional cooperation.

Further discussing economic initiatives, Erdogan announced plans for a Special Economic Zone in Karachi aimed at Turkish investors and highlighted ongoing negotiations to boost bilateral trade. He stressed the importance of defense cooperation and outlined future collaborations in energy, transportation, and information technology sectors, reflecting both countries’ commitment to regional stability and prosperity.