Latest news with #Pakistan-Turkiye
Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM seeks Turkish participation in running Gwadar Port
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reportedly decided to expand bilateral relations with Turkiye as a number of measures are under active consideration including Turkish participation in operationalisation of Gwadar Port, privatisation and off-shore drilling projects, etc. Both Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly supported Pakistan during conflict with India, after companies of both countries present in India were targeted by the Indian government. Prime Minster Shehbaz flew to Turkiye and Azerbaijan to express the country's appreciation for the support they extended in the unprovoked conflict with India. Numerous issues uncovered: Gwadar Port struggles to achieve desired success Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his official visit to Turkiye on May 25, 2025. Well informed sources told Business Recorder that during the meeting, Prime Minister gave several directions on further enhancing Pakistan-Turkiye bilateral cooperation. They said Prime Minister directed Board of Investment (BoI) that immediate allotment of land be ensured for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) dedicated for Turkish companies in Karachi. The SEZ shall be named President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Special Industrial/ Economic Zone. He also directed that date of the next Pakistan-Turkiye Joint Commission meeting be finalised at the earliest. Ministry of Privatisation and Ministry of Defence were directed to engage Turkish firms in the privatisation process of airports. He also directed that payment for MILGEM class ships be expedited, and also to enhance strategic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye in defence and counter-terrorism. Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination was tasked to invite Turkish consultants/ firms to participate in mega projects including Jinnah Medical Complex and Danish University. In this regard a road show was planned for June 2, 2025 in Turkiye for Jinnah Medical Complex. Danish University also joined the same event. According to sources, Petroleum Division and Ministry of Water Resources have been directed to invite Turkish delegation of experts to Pakistan for off-shore drilling and enhancing water storage. Power Division, Privatisation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ Pakistan Ambassador to Turkiye have been directed to identify and contact Turkish experts/ consultants for privatisation of power Distribution Companies (Discos). Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are directed to explore Turkish participation in operationalisation of Gwadar port. Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite a Turkish delegation to Pakistan for deliberation and chalking a way forward on the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad Railway project. Prime Minister has directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explore possibility of upgrading Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Trade Office to Consulate. MoFA will also examine the issuance of statement of support for Turkish Republic or Northern Cyprus. Chief Secretary AJK Government has been directed to immediately (within 48 hours) allot a plot of land in Muzaffarabad to Maarif Foundation for building a school, and the Prime Minister intends to personally hand over the allotment letter to the Ambassador of Turkiye in Islamabad. An oversight committee is to be established within the Prime Minister's Office to oversee the implementation of all these directives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Maryam hails Turkish support
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed her gratitude for Turkiye's unequivocal support for Pakistan against Indian aggression. "Pakistan is grateful for Turkiye's unwavering solidarity on the diplomatic, moral and strategic fronts against Indian aggression," she said during a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Naziroglu. The chief minister discussed fraternal feelings, trade cooperation, regional peace and cultural ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, and acknowledged that "President Erdogan's statement that 'we are with Pakistan in good and bad times' has been engraved in our hearts. All Pakistanis have heartfelt love and devotion for their brothers and sisters in Turkiye." She said, "Pakistani nation will always remember Turkiye's recent unconditional support against Indian aggression. Pakistan and Turkiye are not just allies, but brothers linked in bonds of faith, culture and history." Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "Pakistan-Turkiye relations are a shining symbol of mutual trust, unwavering support and shared values." She underscored, "There is a need to enhance bilateral trade cooperation between the two brotherly countries."
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, Turkiye eye $5b trade partnership
Listen to article In an effort to further diversify strategic business planning with Turkiye, economic stalwarts have suggested promoting bilateral trade, addressing brain drain, boosting human capital and manufacturing capacity, and above all to reshaping national economic, trade and industrial landscapes. During the latest visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan, the Pakistan-Turkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) was held on Feb 13, proposing to further enhance trade, investment, banking, finance, culture, tourism, energy, defence and agriculture. They said both the countries should work together to further strengthen trade volumes, investments, joint ventures and industrialisation cooperation by improving trade and economic ties in the fields of textiles, garments, automobiles, IT, digitalisation, AI, hybrid agriculture, green energy, space and science, Islamic banking, higher education, joint defence production, health and tourism through rigorously implementing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Revival of freight cargos, cluster trading under Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) and involvement of private sectors should be the economic mantra of both sides, they said. Pakistan exported products worth $335.3 million to Turkiye during fiscal year 2024, consisting of bed and table linen, toilet and kitchen linen, cotton yarn, woven cotton fabrics, rice, oilseeds, dates, figs, pineapples, citrus fruits, chemicals, articles of apparel and accessories of leather, paper, paperboard, carpets and more. It imported products from Turkiye worth $491.3 million during fiscal year 2024, including cotton, cotton yarn, machinery, mechanical appliances, electric apparatus, leguminous vegetables, minerals, medicaments, surgical instruments and more. Eminent economist and strategist Dr Mehmoodul Hassan Khan said the FTA drastically reduced tariffs on 261 items, promoting Pakistan's exports in textiles, garments, leather, agriculture commodities mainly rice, sports and surgical goods, and more. This definitely aims to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion, he said. He noted that it is suggested that a well-planned and negotiated FTA can potentially increase bilateral trade from the current level of $584 million to S$5 billion. It is proposed Turkiye's non-tariff barriers and especially the liberal use of anti-dumping laws should be addressed in the FTA. The policy makers of Pakistan should consider signing a separate FTA for its manufacturing and IT sectors, opening Pakistan's domestic markets to Turkish imports. "Brain drain has become a serious threat to our national talent, human capital and manufacturing capacity because of so many complex and complicated reasons pertaining to economic uncertainty and market stagnation. Since Turkiye has become a lucrative market for young professionals of IT, ICT, quantum technologies, big data sciences, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and computer sciences, most of the students from our universities have been destined towards it," he said. However, a joint collaboration, joint production, joint job security and better diplomatic and political understanding has significantly reduced this trend, he said. Now, most Pakistani students are working in joint arms production units, drones manufacturing, humanoid apparatus and robotic sciences. Joint ventures in the KAAN 5th-generation fighter jet, Bayraktar TB3 armed drones and nine Akinci surveillance drones, T-129 ATAK helicopters, small navy ships, aerospace and automobiles would be an effective instrument to stop brain drain. Prominent industrialist Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani said that trade between Pakistan and Turkiye holds immense potential, particularly in textiles, agriculture and technology. Shaikhani said, "Hyderabad, being a hub for agro-based industries and textiles, can play a crucial role. We should enhance joint ventures in textile value addition, establish direct trade routes for agro-processed goods, and promote IT sector collaboration."
Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
President eulogises 'visionary' Aga Khan IV
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on Monday and offered his condolences on the passing of his father Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who died in the Portuguese capital last week, the press wing of the President Secretariat said in a press release. It said that the president expressed his heartfelt sympathies on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan. He said that the Pakistani nation mourned the loss of a "true friend" and "great philanthropist", whose "visionary leadership improved the lives of people" around the world. The president lauded the late Aga Khan's contributions to Pakistan's social and economic development, particularly in healthcare, education, community development, and poverty alleviation. He hoped that Prince Rahim would continue his father's mission to serve the cause of humanity. While en route to Lisbon, the president had a stopover at Istanbul Airport and held a brief meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties, matters of mutual interest, and exchanged courtesies. The meeting between Zardari and Erdogan came as the Turkish president embarked on a four-day three-nation visit that would take him to Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan. According to Turkiye's Sabah Daily, Erdogan would visit Pakistan on the last leg of his tour. It noted that Pakistan-Turkiye relations reached the highest level under successive tenures of the Turkish president. Two countries particularly increased cooperation in the defence industry, with deals signed on the acquisition of naval vessels and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). During the February 10-13 visit, Erdogan's meeting would "focus on enhancing cooperation in various fields, as well as hot topics on the international agenda, from the Palestine-Israel conflict to the situation in Syria as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict", the daily reported. (WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
