Istanbul, 04 July 2026 (APP)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Turkish investors to explore opportunities across Pakistan’s key economic sectors, emphasizing that the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye should now evolve into a stronger and more effective economic partnership.

Addressing the Pakistan–Türkiye Business-to-Business Conference in Istanbul, the Prime Minister highlighted investment potential in energy, renewable energy, water resources, agriculture, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), mining and minerals, information technology (IT), and artificial intelligence (AI).

He praised Türkiye’s consistent support for Pakistan during challenging times and said the two countries shared an enduring relationship founded on mutual trust, respect, and solidarity. Stressing the importance of translating political goodwill into economic gains, he urged both sides to move from dialogue to practical cooperation.

Mr. Sharif commended Türkiye’s remarkable industrial progress under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership, particularly in manufacturing, automobiles, textiles, and agriculture. He said Pakistan was keen to benefit from Türkiye’s experience in energy reforms, including reducing transmission losses, improving electricity distribution, and expanding renewable energy.

To encourage Turkish investment, the Prime Minister announced the allocation of 1,000 acres in a Special Economic Zone near Port Qasim, Karachi, for Turkish investors under the proposed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Special Economic Zone.

He also pointed to Pakistan’s vast untapped mineral wealth and growing digital economy, noting that with nearly 60 percent of the population under the age of 30, the country offers a strong workforce for technology-driven growth. He invited Turkish companies to invest in solar, wind, hydropower, mining, and digital technologies, expressing confidence that business-to-business cooperation would continue to deepen with government support where needed.

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz described the conference as the beginning of a new phase of economic cooperation, saying Pakistan and Türkiye had consistently supported each other through every challenge. He praised Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic role in promoting regional peace and stressed that the two countries should expand collaboration in automobiles, agribusiness, food processing, healthcare, renewable energy, green technologies, IT, tourism, shipbuilding, and defence industries.

He reaffirmed the shared goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$5 billion, noting that Turkish direct investment in Pakistan had already exceeded US$2 billion.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the two countries should transform their strong political ties into a comprehensive economic partnership. He highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing economic reforms and investor-friendly policies, inviting Turkish businesses to invest in infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, tourism, mining, energy, IT, and the defence sector.

Other Pakistani ministers presented investment opportunities in power transmission, oil and gas, digital technology, privatization, and public-private partnership projects, underscoring the government’s commitment to creating a stable and business-friendly investment environment.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to maintaining a transparent, predictable and investment-friendly business environment, supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), to facilitate strategic investments in high-value sectors, particularly information and communication technologies.

The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Chief Executive Officer of Turkcell, Ali Taha Koc, who called on him in Istanbul, Turkiye.

During the meeting, the prime minister underscored the importance of deepening Pakistan–Turkiye cooperation in the digital and technology sectors.