Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Turkiye on Tuesday for a two-day official visit, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Ankara. The visit comes at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and follows up on recent high-level engagements between the two nations.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier is accompanied by key members of his cabinet and diplomatic team, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
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During the visit, PM Shehbaz and President Erdogan will engage in wide-ranging discussions covering bilateral ties, regional developments, and economic collaboration. The agenda includes reviewing progress made since Erdogan’s visit to Islamabad in February, during which both leaders co-chaired the 7th session of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).
That session marked a pivotal moment in Pakistan-Turkiye relations, resulting in the signing of 24 MoUs across sectors such as trade, defence, energy, finance, and digital connectivity. Both sides committed to boosting bilateral trade to $5 billion, with emphasis on enhancing the Trade in Goods Agreement and operationalising the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade corridor.
PM Shehbaz’s visit is expected to build further momentum around shared economic goals and deepen collaboration in areas of strategic importance. Observers note that the renewed diplomatic energy reflects both countries’ aspirations to evolve their historical ties into a robust 21st-century partnership.
