Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Shehbaz have signed a string of agreements aiming at bolstering  bilateral commercial traffic between the two countries.  After holding delegation-level talks at PM House in Islamabad on Thursday, President Erdogan and PM Shehbaz inked 24 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) across various sectors, including trade, media, defence, and healthcare. 

The agreements aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, investment, and technological exchanges between the two nations.   Both sides signed a declaration to further strengthen strategic relations between Pakistan and Turkiye. Another MoU was signed for exchange of military, civil personnel on socio-cultural basis.   According to reports, 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.  Beyond trade, Pakistan and Türkiye have agreed to increase defence cooperation, focusing on joint production and technology exchange in the defence sector.  A warm and heartiest welcome was accorded to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan when they were received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at PM House in Islamabad on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday was given a guard of honour at the Prime Minister’s House as he arrived to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.  Prime Minister Shehbaz warmly welcomed President Erdogan at the main entrance of the PM House.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)