Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Visit Ankara for Talks with President Erdogan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to travel to Ankara on Tuesday for an official visit, where he will engage in comprehensive discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The focus of the meeting will be on enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing regional developments.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Office (FO), the Prime Minister will participate in in-depth conversations with President Erdogan regarding relations between the two countries. They will also exchange perspectives on recent events occurring in the region and globally.

“Pakistan and Turkiye, as enduring allies and strategic partners, have a tradition of frequent high-level exchanges, which demonstrates the unique and strong relationship between the two nations,” the statement noted.

Both countries have established a formal leadership-level framework known as the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC). This council facilitates collaboration and coordination on various matters of shared interest.

The HLSCC, created in 2009, serves as the primary decision-making body between Pakistan and Turkiye. It guides bilateral relations through joint standing committees that cover sectors such as trade, investment, defense, energy, agriculture, health, and education.

The 7th HLSCC session took place in Islamabad in February 2025 and was co-chaired by President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“This upcoming meeting is a continuation of their strong communication and highlights their mutual dedication to strengthening the broad partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye,” the statement concluded.

This visit occurs just months after President Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad in February 2025, during which the two countries signed 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.

Significant agreements involved expanding the Trade in Goods Agreement (TGA), strengthening defense cooperation, and promoting Turkish investments in Pakistan.

Both leaders also committed to activating the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade corridor and enhancing cooperation in energy, finance, and digital trade.

“We have agreed with Prime Minister Sharif to continue our efforts to reach the $5 billion trade volume target between Turkiye and Pakistan,” Erdogan stated. “As a first step, we are expanding the scope of our current goods trade agreement to achieve this goal.”

Bilateral trade between Turkiye and Pakistan reached a record $1.4 billion in 2024, representing an increase of nearly 30% from the previous year.

Both leaders voiced optimism about building on this momentum, with Erdogan encouraging Turkish investors to become more involved in Pakistan’s growing market.