Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived at the Prime Minister House on Thursday morning, where he was warmly received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The First Lady of Türkiye, Emin Erdoğan, accompanied the president, and both were greeted with love and sincerity, reflecting the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye. 

As part of the official welcome ceremony, the national anthems of both countries were played, followed by a ceremonial guard of honour presented by a vibrant military contingent. Additionally, Pakistan Air Force aircraft paid tribute to the distinguished guest with a special salute. 

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally welcomed President Erdoğan, shaking hands with him and introducing him to members of the federal cabinet. The Turkish president also had a cordial meeting with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.

Members of the federal cabinet extended a warm reception to President Erdoğan, who reciprocated by shaking hands and engaging with them.

Accompanying the Turkish president was a high-level delegation, which he introduced to the PM. As a symbolic gesture of goodwill, President Erdoğan planted a sapling within the premises of the Prime Minister House. 

Signing of 24 Memorandums of Understanding

Later, Erdogan and Shehbaz signed 24 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across various sectors, including trade, media, defence, and healthcare. The agreements aim to enhance economic cooperation, investment, and technological exchange between the two nations. 

Both sides signed a declaration to further strengthen strategic relations between Pakistan and Turkiye. Another MoU was signed for the exchange of military and civil personnel on a sociocultural basis. The Export Credit Bank of Turkiye and Pakistan's Export Import Bank also signed an MoU, while several more were signed on the establishment of legal metrology infrastructure; cooperation in the field of agricultural seeds and water; digitization of verification of origin of trade certificates; joint ministerial statement on increasing trade in goods; protocol of amendment to the agreement on Pak-Turkiye cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons; cooperation in the fields of mining and energy transition. 

After the signing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Turkiye has acknowledged the sacrifices of the Pakistani people and armed forces in the fight against terrorism. Turkiye has always been a strong voice against human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, he added. He further said the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will elevate Pakistan-Turkiye relations to new heights.

"President Erdoğan won the hearts of Pakistanis with his generous support during the devastating floods. Turkiye provided invaluable assistance to Pakistan in its time of need," he asserted. adding that the relations between Pakistan and Turkiye were centuries old and deeply rooted in brotherhood.

"Under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the construction of village schools in Punjab was initiated. Pakistan and Turkiye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in religious services and religious education," the PM noted. 

The PM expressed confidence that President Erdoğan’s visit to Pakistan would be highly beneficial for both nations. “I warmly welcome President Erdoğan and his delegation to Pakistan and extend my heartfelt gratitude for their visit,” said Shehbaz Sharif.

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Officials revealed that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Türkiye stood at $543.4 million in 2023-24, a decline from $640 million in 2018 and $620 million in 2019. The drop has been attributed to unresolved banking and shipping sector issues.

Separately, during a high-level meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat discussed ways to expand trade and investment relations. 

Jam Kamal emphasized Pakistan’s deep ties with Türkiye, calling it the country’s "second home", while Minister Bolat praised the close relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a driving force behind stronger economic cooperation.

Both countries, which produce similar goods in sectors like agriculture and textiles, are now focusing on overcoming trade barriers and increasing market access. Discussions between the two ministers also centred on making the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) more effective and reviving the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement to promote regional economic integration.

Trade initiatives discussed

• Türkiye has pledged to take steps to increase imports of Pakistani Basmati rice.
• A proposal for a "Made in Pakistan" expo in Türkiye has been put forward to showcase Pakistani products.
• Pakistan has invited Türkiye to participate in the upcoming Healthcare and Industrial Expo in April.
• The FoodTech Expo in Lahore from February 26-28 is expected to serve as a platform for strengthening trade relations.

Defense and industrial cooperation

Beyond trade, Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to increase defence cooperation, focusing on joint production and technology exchange in the defense sector.

Meanwhile, Turkish companies are preparing to increase investments in Pakistan, particularly in infrastructure, manufacturing, and media exchange, said the Turkish minister. Additionally, Türkiye’s fashion and furniture exhibitions in Istanbul are gradually replacing European markets, presenting new export opportunities for Pakistani businesses. 

With these agreements, both nations reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, economic collaboration, and defense ties, paving the way for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.

The Turkish president is in Pakistan for a two-day official visit. During his stay, he will lead the Turkish delegation at the High-Level Cooperation Council meeting. Both countries are expected to sign multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements to enhance cooperation in various fields, strengthening bilateral ties even further.