Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded his official visit to Pakistan on Thursday after holding discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials.
During his stay, both countries signed 24 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who bid farewell to the Turkish leader, expressed Pakistan’s commitment to boosting bilateral trade to $5 billion. The visit marked a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
On the diplomatic front, Erdoğan extended his best wishes to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz, during her interaction with the Turkish President, conveyed greetings from her father and confirmed that his health remained stable.
Discussions between the two leaders also covered regional and global issues, reinforcing their shared interest in deepening bilateral relations. As part of his visit, Erdoğan toured a Pakistan Air Force base, where he observed an aerial display by fighter jets. He also planted a tree at the Prime Minister’s House, symbolizing a commitment to long-term relations.
A key highlight of the visit was the seventh session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by both leaders. The meeting reviewed reports from nine joint committees covering areas such as healthcare and information technology. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir also participated in the discussions.
Signing of 24 Agreements
Erdoğan and Shehbaz formalized 24 MoUs covering various fields, including trade, media, defense, and healthcare. These agreements aim to enhance economic collaboration, attract investment, and facilitate technological exchange.
A joint declaration was signed to strengthen strategic ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, alongside an MoU enabling the exchange of military and civil personnel on a sociocultural basis. Other agreements included partnerships between the Export Credit Bank of Turkiye and Pakistan’s Export-Import Bank, as well as cooperation in legal metrology, agricultural seed and water management, digital verification of trade certificates, hydrocarbons, mining, and energy transition.
Following the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged Turkiye’s support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and praised its stance against human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. He highlighted that Erdoğan’s visit would take Pakistan-Turkiye relations to new heights.
Shehbaz also expressed gratitude for Turkiye’s assistance during Pakistan’s devastating floods, noting that President Erdoğan had won the hearts of Pakistanis with his generosity. He further appreciated First Lady Emine Erdoğan’s role in initiating village school construction projects in Punjab.
Additionally, Pakistan and Turkiye signed an MoU to enhance cooperation in religious services and education. Shehbaz reaffirmed his confidence that Erdoğan’s visit would yield significant benefits for both countries, warmly welcoming the Turkish delegation and expressing heartfelt gratitude for their visit.
