Pakistan, Türkiye elevate historic friendship to ‘multifaceted strategic partnership’: PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for stronger economic cooperation, increased investment and joint ventures between Pakistan and Türkiye, saying the two countries must bring their economic partnership in line with their longstanding political and strategic ties.
Addressing a dinner hosted at the residence of the Turkish ambassador in Islamabad on Thursday to mark Türkiye’s 103rd Republic Day, the prime minister said the historic friendship between the two countries had evolved into a multifaceted strategic partnership encompassing political dialogue, trade, investment, defence, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
Shehbaz Sharif recalled Türkiye’s support for Pakistan during Marka-e-Haq in May 2025, when, according to the prime minister, Pakistan faced Indian aggression and its sovereignty came under severe pressure.
“Türkiye stood firmly by our side with unwavering commitment and dedication,” he said, acknowledging Ankara’s solidarity during the challenging period.
The prime minister also highlighted the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on August 7, describing it as an important milestone in trilateral cooperation. He said the agreement had strengthened collective deterrence and reaffirmed the three countries’ shared commitment to regional peace and stability.
“While we strengthen our defences, we continue to champion dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Türkiye maintained close cooperation across economic, commercial, educational, cultural and defence sectors, noting Türkiye’s growing role in areas such as defence technologies. He stressed, however, that bilateral economic relations needed to expand further to reflect the strength of the two countries’ strategic partnership.
“Our economic partnership must now match the height of our political and strategic bond,” the prime minister said, inviting Turkish business leaders to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Recalling his announcement at the Pakistan-Türkiye Business Conference in Istanbul in July, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had proposed establishing the President Tayyip Erdogan Special Economic Zone in Karachi to attract Turkish investment and promote industrial cooperation.
He said Pakistan offered considerable investment potential because of its strategic geographical location, young population and emerging economic opportunities.
“Let us translate the goodwill between our two peoples into joint ventures, shared prosperity and meaningful jobs for our young people,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, the prime minister described the close relationship between the two nations in symbolic terms, saying Pakistan and Türkiye were “two bodies with one soul”.
In a separate message on X, Shehbaz Sharif said the two countries shared an exceptional bond of brotherhood rooted in common history, mutual trust and unwavering solidarity. He expressed confidence that their enduring friendship would continue to expand across generations and contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Zardari, Bilawal extend Republic Day greetings
President Asif Ali Zardari also called for strengthening Pakistan’s historic partnership with Türkiye through greater cooperation in trade, investment, defence, education, culture and other areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Office on X, Zardari highlighted the exceptional bond of brotherhood between the two countries, rooted in shared history, faith, common values and enduring people-to-people ties.
The president said Pakistan deeply valued the solidarity and generous support extended by the Turkish leadership and people during difficult times. He expressed confidence that closer political engagement and expanded cooperation would further strengthen bilateral relations.
Referring to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, Zardari said the arrangement could deepen strategic cooperation among Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, strengthen bilateral and trilateral relations, and contribute to lasting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people on the 103rd anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
In his message on X, Bilawal said Türkiye had always been regarded with special affection in Pakistan and described the sense of kinship between the two nations as a valuable asset.
He expressed the hope that successive generations in both countries would continue to nurture their friendship.
“Although the colours of our flags are different, seeing the bright moon and stars on both evokes a single prayer from the heart: may both homelands remain safe, and may the people of both countries live with their heads held high,” he said.
Defence, trade and energy cooperation
Pakistan and Türkiye maintain wide-ranging bilateral relations covering political engagement, economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and defence collaboration.
On October 21, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Indonesia signed an agreement aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing their defensive capabilities. The Turkish Defence Ministry said the Badr accord would promote collaboration between the participating countries’ defence industries and support their shared security objectives.
Earlier, on August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye formalised their strategic cooperation through the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Islamabad and Ankara also maintain close defence ties through military training, naval cooperation and defence equipment collaboration.
During discussions on July 5, Pakistan and Türkiye reiterated their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion and explored ways to expand trade and investment, particularly through special economic zones.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed Türkiye’s interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in energy, transport, critical minerals, information technology and defence.
In another development, Pakistan and Türkiye signed three memorandums of understanding on June 26 to strengthen institutional cooperation and technical collaboration between their energy-sector organisations.
The agreements cover post-privatisation governance frameworks, electricity market development and regulations for ancillary services. They also provide for training programmes, study visits and joint projects to promote knowledge-sharing and institutional capacity-building.
The two countries have continued to pursue closer economic and strategic ties, with both sides emphasising the importance of translating their longstanding friendship into expanded trade, investment, industrial cooperation and regional stability.