Ishaq Dar Calls for Stronger Pakistan-Turkiye Economic Partnership at Istanbul Business Forum

Istanbul: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has stressed the need to further deepen economic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey, saying that the two countries should leverage their long-standing strategic relationship by expanding trade, investment and commercial partnership in the emerging global economic landscape.

Addressing the Pakistan-Turkey Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference in Istanbul, Dar said that the rapidly changing regional and global environment has made strong economic cooperation more important than ever. He said that the two governments are committed to transforming their historic friendship into a more dynamic and fruitful economic partnership.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Turkey have stood by each other in difficult times, describing the shared trust between the leadership and people of both countries as one of the strongest pillars of bilateral relations. He added that this enduring trust provides a solid foundation for enhancing cooperation in trade, industry and investment.

Dar emphasised that economic diplomacy has become a defining feature of modern international relations, requiring countries to strengthen business ties alongside political cooperation. He said Islamabad is committed to removing barriers that restrict trade and investment so that businesses from both countries can benefit from greater market access and trade opportunities.

Highlighting the investment potential of Pakistan, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the government is focusing on creating a transparent and business-friendly environment to attract foreign investors. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to policy reforms aimed at improving investor confidence and facilitating long-term partnerships with international companies.

He invited Turkish businesses to explore investment opportunities in a wide range of sectors, including information technology, mining and minerals, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure and other high-growth industries. According to Dar, these sectors offer significant potential for mutually beneficial cooperation and can further strengthen economic ties between Islamabad and Ankara.

The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed the hope that the growing engagement between the private sectors of the two countries will complement the ongoing government-level initiatives and help increase the volume of bilateral trade and investment in the coming years.

The Pakistan-Turkey B2B Conference brought together senior government officials, business leaders and investors from both countries to discuss new avenues of trade cooperation. The forum is expected to further strengthen the business-to-business partnership and reinforce the shared commitment of Pakistan and Turkey to expand economic ties through sustainable investment and trade.