Pakistan and Turkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic ties and boosting bilateral trade, setting an ambitious goal to raise their trade volume to $5 billion, with renewed cooperation in defence, energy, education, infrastructure, and counter-terrorism.
The pledge came during a joint press conference in Islamabad by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, as both sides reviewed the progress of their High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) framework.
Advancing Strategic Collaboration
Highlighting the results of the February 2025 HLSCC session, DPM Dar expressed satisfaction over the activities of the 12 Joint Standing Committees, saying all have either convened or are scheduled to meet soon.
He announced that a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting will take place in the coming weeks, co-chaired by Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Güler and Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan. “This platform will further boost our economic partnership,” Dar noted.
Defence, Trade, and Connectivity
DPM Dar lauded Turkiye’s success in indigenising its defence industry, expanding from 20% to 80% in recent years. He said Pakistan is eager to learn from Turkiye’s model, with particular interest in establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi exclusively for Turkish enterprises.
Efforts to revive the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad rail corridor are also underway, with both sides expected to finalise a road map soon. Dar also confirmed land has been allocated in Muzaffarabad for a Maarif school, part of broader educational collaboration.
Other potential Turkish-led investments include:
The Jinnah Medical Complex
Danish University
Offshore oil drilling projects
Participation in power distribution sector privatisation
Ship-breaking and water resource management projects
Focus on Counter-Terrorism & Security
Counter-terrorism training and capacity building also featured on the agenda. Dar said these steps would pave the way for the upcoming 8th HLSCC session, scheduled to be held in Turkiye next year.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s deep ties with Turkiye, Dar described Ankara as a “trusted friend and reliable brother,” and expressed strong solidarity with the Turkish people.
Turkish FM: ‘Relations Growing Stronger by the Day’
- In his remarks, FM Hakan Fidan echoed the sentiment, describing the meeting as highly productive. He reiterated Turkiye’s goal of expanding bilateral trade to $5 billion, with enhanced cooperation in energy, mining, education, and transport.
- Fidan stressed the need for improved regional connectivity, including air, sea, road, and rail links, and confirmed that technical planning is underway.
- On geopolitical issues, the Turkish foreign minister praised Pakistan’s calm and wise response to recent tensions with India, reaffirming Turkiye’s support for dialogue and diplomacy.
“The international commhunity has witnessed Pakistan’s maturity and restraint during the crisis,” Fidan remarked, underlining Ankara’s continued backing for regional peace.
