Pakistan and Turkiye Vow to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

Islamabad: On Wednesday, Pakistan and Turkiye committed to bolstering their collaboration across several crucial sectors, including defence, commerce, energy, culture, education, and infrastructure. The goal is to elevate the trade volume to $5 billion.

During a joint press briefing featuring Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishaq Dar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, both nations conveyed their satisfaction with the advancement of the 12 joint standing committees operating under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).

DPM Dar, also serving as the foreign minister, referenced the most recent HLSCC session held in Islamabad this past February. He noted that both sides had consented to form a joint commission to assess the development of the 12 Joint Standing Committees functioning within the HLSCC framework.

He gladly announced that all 12 Joint Standing Committees have already convened or are planned to meet in the weeks ahead.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting is anticipated in the coming weeks.

“The JMC will be jointly led by Turkiye’s Minister of National Defence, Yasar Guler, and Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan. This significant platform is poised to further strengthen economic ties between the two nations,” he added.

DPM Dar lauded Turkiye’s effective localization of its defence sector, which has expanded from 20% to 80% recently, stating Pakistan’s eagerness to gain from this experience.

He revealed that Pakistan is actively pursuing the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi dedicated to Turkish businesses, while efforts are in progress to revitalize the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad rail link.

“Our delegations will convene in the coming weeks to finalize a roadmap for this endeavor.”

Dar also affirmed that land has been designated in Muzaffarabad for constructing a Maarif school.

He added that several significant projects involving Turkish companies are under consideration, including the Jinnah Medical Complex, Danish University, offshore drilling activities, and participation in the privatization of power distribution firms. Pakistan is also aiming to leverage Turkish expertise in ship-breaking and water resource management, he noted.

Capacity enhancement in counter-terrorism is also on the agenda. “These initiatives are viewed as setting the stage for the 8th HLSCC, scheduled to take place in Turkiye next year,” he stated.

Reiterating the strong relationship between the two countries, FM Dar described Turkiye as a “reliable brother and trusted friend,” emphasizing Pakistan’s support for the Turkish populace.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, acknowledging the fruitful meeting with DPM Dar, stated that the bilateral relations between the two countries are growing stronger with each passing day.

“We aim to elevate our trade relations to $5 billion by intensifying cooperation in diverse fields, including energy, mining, education, and transportation,” he added.

He also underscored the importance of further enhancing air, sea, land, and railway connections between the two nations, noting that technical activities are ongoing in this regard.

Regarding regional matters, the Turkish foreign minister commended Pakistan’s measured response during the recent tensions with India and reaffirmed Turkiye’s commitment to peace and dialogue. “The international community has observed Pakistan’s wisdom and composed demeanor during the tension,” he added.