ISLAMABAD: At the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Pakistan starting Wednesday. This high-profile visit is expected to deepen the longstanding diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
According to the Foreign Office, President Erdogan will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior government officials, ministers, and leading corporate figures from Türkiye. The visit will focus on enhancing strategic cooperation and fostering business collaborations.
A key highlight of the visit will be the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will co-chair. The HLSCC serves as the apex body overseeing strategic collaboration between the two countries across various sectors.
Following the session, both sides are expected to formalize their commitments by signing a Joint Declaration along with multiple agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements will span areas such as trade, investment, technology, defence, education, and energy. The two leaders will also hold a joint press conference to share key outcomes of their discussions.
In addition to the council meeting, President Erdogan will hold separate bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, further reinforcing diplomatic engagements at the highest level.
Economic collaboration will also be a major focus of the visit. President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz will jointly address the Pakistan-Türkiye Business and Investment Forum, which will convene top investors, industry leaders, and business executives from both nations. This forum is expected to unlock new trade and investment opportunities, encouraging stronger commercial ties.
The HLSCC plays a pivotal role in guiding bilateral cooperation, with multiple Joint Standing Committees operating under its framework. These committees cover an extensive range of sectors, including trade, finance, banking, tourism, energy, defence, agriculture, transportation, IT, health, science, and education. Since its inception, six HLSCC sessions have been held, with the last one taking place in Islamabad on February 13-14, 2020.
Pakistan and Türkiye share deep-rooted historical, cultural, and fraternal ties. President Erdogan’s visit, alongside the 7th HLSCC session, is expected to further elevate this relationship, paving the way for enhanced strategic collaboration and mutual prosperity.
