ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded on Thursday his official visit to Pakistan, leaving the country after his meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others.
According to the statement issued, during his stay, both countries signed 24 agreements and memorandums of understanding to enhance their cooperation across various sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly bid farewell to the Turkish leader. “We aim to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion,” he stated. The visit marked a significant milestone in fostering stronger diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
On the diplomatic front, Erdoğan expressed his best wishes for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. “My best wishes are with Nawaz Sharif,” Erdoğan remarked.
Maryam Nawaz conveyed her father’s greetings to the Turkish President during their interaction. She confirmed Nawaz Sharif’s health was stable and that he wished Erdoğan well.
The two leaders also held talks on regional and global issues, underscoring their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral relations. Erdoğan visited the Pakistan Air Force base, where he witnessed an impressive aerial display by the country’s fighter jets.
He also planted a tree at the Prime Minister’s House, symbolising a commitment to long-lasting ties.
Furthermore, the high-level meetings saw the co-chairing of the Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council’s seventh meeting.
Both sides reviewed reports from nine joint committees across various sectors, including health and information technology.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir also participated in the session.
– Signing of 24 Memorandums of Understanding –
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.
