'Two Hearts, One Soul': Pakistan, Türkiye vow to elevate strategic partnership, boost trade to $5bn

• Premier Shehbaz says Türkiye's success is Pakistan's success, hails 'two hearts, one soul' bond

• Erdogan, PM reaffirm commitment to deeper cooperation in trade, investment, energy and defence

• Both leaders pledge to achieve $5b bilateral trade target through expanded economic engagement

• Ankara praises Pakistan's mediation role in Iran-US talks, backs Islamabad's regional peace efforts

• Shehbaz thanks Türkiye for steadfast support on Kashmir, reiterates backing for Northern Cyprus

• PM invites Turkish investors to expand footprint in energy, mining, IT, infrastructure and privatization

• Pakistan, Türkiye to deepen collaboration in digital connectivity, 5G, telecom and strategic sectors

• Leaders stress dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to lasting regional peace and stability

ISTANBUL/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday declared that Türkiye’s success was Pakistan’s success, reaffirming Islamabad’s resolve to further deepen its “unique partnership” with Ankara as he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence and regional peace while reiterating their commitment to raising bilateral trade to $5 billion.

Addressing a joint press conference with President Erdogan at the Vahdettin Palace following delegation-level talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz described Pakistan and Türkiye as “two hearts of one soul,” saying their enduring friendship was rooted in centuries of shared history, common faith, mutual sacrifice and an unbreakable bond of brotherhood.

The President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a joint Press Stakeout (4 July, 2026). pic.twitter.com/dPYsPTAzqr

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

“Pakistan has always found a home in the hearts of the people of Türkiye just as Türkiye lives in the hearts of every Pakistani,” the prime minister said.

He thanked President Erdogan for his warm welcome and gracious hospitality, describing Istanbul as the magnificent city where history meets modernity and the rich cultures of East and West flourish side by side.

"Pakistanis and Türkiye have always stood firmly beside one another on issues of fundamental national importance. Pakistan will continue to stand firmly with Türkiye on the issue of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, just as it has consistently done over the last many… pic.twitter.com/ya8Z7wTbO1

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 4, 2026

Quoting renowned Turkish poet and thinker Yunus Emre—“A heart makes a good home for the friend”—the prime minister said no words could better capture the depth of relations between the two brotherly nations.

"Very few leaders of our time have demonstrated the vision, courage and steadfast resolve that President Tayyip Erdoğan has shown over more than two decades of bold and dynamic leadership. Under his wise and sagacious leadership, Türkiye has undergone a remarkable transformation… pic.twitter.com/qcpJbzHfKe

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 4, 2026

Recalling Türkiye’s unwavering support during Pakistan’s most difficult moments, including wars, earthquakes and devastating floods, PM Shehbaz particularly acknowledged President Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan’s flood-affected areas in 2010 and First Lady Emine Erdogan’s humanitarian support for flood victims.

"Very few leaders of our time have demonstrated the vision, courage and steadfast resolve that President Tayyip Erdoğan has shown over more than two decades of bold and dynamic leadership. Under his wise and sagacious leadership, Türkiye has undergone a remarkable transformation… pic.twitter.com/qcpJbzHfKe

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 4, 2026

The prime minister said his discussions with President Erdogan were comprehensive and highly productive, expressing satisfaction over the growing momentum in bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

He said both leaders reviewed concrete measures to unlock the full potential of economic collaboration, stressing that the immense goodwill shared by the two countries provided a unique opportunity to achieve their mutually agreed target of $5 billion in bilateral trade.

Istanbul: 4 july 2026.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is on an official visit to Istanbul, Turkiye, held a bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul today.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign… pic.twitter.com/qzQwYjPF0E

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

Reaffirming Pakistan’s principled support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, PM Shehbaz also thanked Türkiye for its steadfast backing of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their legitimate right to self-determination.

He said the two leaders reaffirmed their shared conviction that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect remained the only sustainable path to resolving disputes and preserving international peace and security.

Istanbul: 4 july 2026.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who is on an official visit to Istanbul, Turkiye, held a bilateral meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul today.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign… pic.twitter.com/qzQwYjPF0E

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

The prime minister thanked Türkiye for its strong and unwavering support for Pakistan’s regional peace efforts, which culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum.

“The decisions we have taken today will not remain words on paper,” he said. “They will translate into greater trade, stronger investment, deeper strategic cooperation and, above all, a better future for our peoples.”

He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further strengthening its strategic partnership with Türkiye.

Quoting the great Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi, PM Shehbaz said: “The lamps are different, but the light is the same,” adding that the people of Pakistan and Türkiye continued to be guided by the shared light of faith, compassion, mutual respect and an enduring brotherhood.

TÜRKIYE’S SOLIDARITY WITH PAKISTAN ‘CONTINUES IN EVERY FIELD’

Addressing a joint press conference after talks at the Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul, President Erdogan said the two leaders had reviewed bilateral, regional and global developments with a strong focus on further expanding economic cooperation.

“In our talks today, we exchanged views on global and regional issues with a particular focus on our bilateral relations,” President Erdogan said.

The President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hold meeting at Vahdateen Palace in Istanbul (4 July 2026). pic.twitter.com/RAKLkrSVsA

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

Reaffirming that Türkiye’s solidarity with Pakistan “continues in every field,” Erdogan said both sides had discussed practical steps to further strengthen trade and investment ties in line with the spirit of their longstanding friendship.

“We have reaffirmed our target of increasing our trade volume to the previously set level of $5 billion,” he said, recalling the commitment made in May 2024 on the basis of the economic potential identified by both countries in 2022.

The Turkish president said the trade ministries of both countries were working on establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi for Turkish businesses.

He added that negotiations were also under way to expand the scope of the Pakistan-Türkiye Preferential Trade Agreement, expressing confidence that the Pakistan-Türkiye Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference would further strengthen bilateral investment and commercial ties.

“We, too, encourage our investors to engage in more activities in Pakistan,” he said.

It was a great pleasure and honour to meet my very dear brother, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the historic city of Istanbul today.

Our discussions covered the full spectrum of the Pakistan–Türkiye Strategic Partnership, with particular focus on trade, investment, defence… pic.twitter.com/oLC4zqd3S7

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 4, 2026

Highlighting defence cooperation as one of the cornerstones of bilateral economic relations, Erdogan said collaboration in the defence industry continued to grow stronger with the launch of new joint projects.

“We are implementing these projects step by step, and I am confident they will further strengthen Pakistan,” he said.

Erdogan also expressed Türkiye’s desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan in energy, transportation, critical minerals and information technology.

“I hope that today’s meeting and the decisions we have reached will lead to beneficial outcomes,” he added.

At the outset of his address, President Erdogan highlighted Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, saying the entire world had breathed a sigh of relief following the calm achieved through the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Referring to reports highlighting challenges in the negotiation process, he congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for their invaluable efforts in facilitating the agreement.

“We too have supported and continue to support every step that will help reduce tensions in our region and resolve issues through diplomatic means,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish president said Ankara was closely monitoring what he described as Israeli attempts to undermine the agreement between the United States and Iran.

He also criticised Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza and stressed that the region should not be allowed to descend into renewed conflict.

“Türkiye seeks the establishment of an environment in which all the peoples of the region, regardless of their faith, can live in peace and security,” he said.

Emphasising that lasting peace could only be achieved through regional cooperation, Erdogan said, “No solution that does not derive strength from the contributions of countries in the region can possibly be lasting.”

He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to working with “brotherly countries, foremost among them Pakistan,” to promote peace, stability and prosperity across the region.

President Erdogan also expressed condolences over Friday’s road accident near the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border that claimed 40 lives.

Earlier, President Erdogan received Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Vahdettin Palace, where an official welcome ceremony was held before the two leaders held one-on-one and delegation-level talks.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Intelligence Organisation chief Ibrahim Kalin, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran and Chief Presidential Adviser Akif Çağatay Kılıç attended the closed-door meeting.

PM, Erdogan reaffirm commitment to stronger bilateral ties

During their meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Erdogan reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, energy and regional cooperation.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with ministers and senior officials from both countries, attended the meeting.

The two leaders reaffirmed the historic and brotherly relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye and expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties.

They held wide-ranging discussions on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, energy, offshore and onshore petroleum exploration, mines and minerals, and information technology. They also reiterated their commitment to achieving the mutually agreed bilateral trade target of $5 billion, the PMO said.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments. According to the statement, President Erdogan appreciated Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, which contributed to the signing of the Islamabad MoU.

Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked President Erdogan for Türkiye’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s peace efforts. Both leaders also appreciated the close diplomatic coordination between the two countries during the peace process and underscored the need for sustained efforts to ensure lasting regional peace.

They further reaffirmed Pakistan and Türkiye’s unwavering support for each other’s core national interests.

Looking ahead to the eighth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), scheduled to be held in Türkiye later this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz extended an invitation to President Erdogan to visit Pakistan, the PMO statement added.

‘Turkiye one of Pakistan’s staunchest allies’

Addressing the Pakistan-Türkiye Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference in Istanbul, the prime minister described Türkiye as "one of Pakistan's staunchest allies around the globe" and said the exceptional political goodwill between the two countries must now be transformed into tangible economic gains.

Referring to the remarks made by ministers from both sides, PM Shehbaz said the strength of Pakistan-Türkiye relations "demands very strongly that these beautiful words from both sides must now be converted into something concrete."

Recalling Pakistan's mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, he said the initiative had been made possible with the wholehearted support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other brotherly countries.

"I think this is high time when Pakistan, with the great support of my very dear brother President Tayyip Erdogan, has been able to mediate peace between the United States and Iran," he said.

Describing the diplomatic effort as an uphill task, the prime minister remarked that the mission "would have been well-nigh impossible" without Türkiye's sincere support.

He said the peace process offered "tremendous potential" not only for strengthening bilateral cooperation but also for promoting peace, stability and prosperity across the wider region.

Praising President Erdogan's dynamic leadership, PM Shehbaz said Türkiye had achieved remarkable progress in industrial development over the past two decades.

"Today, your automobile industry is at par with your textile, livestock, agriculture, and this has been a kind of a mini-miracle in the last 20 years under President Tayyip Erdogan's leadership," he observed.

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz attended the conference, while Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Power Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja were among the Pakistani ministers who also addressed the gathering.

The Foreign Office had said the B2B conference was aimed at showcasing Pakistan's trade and investment potential in priority sectors, including Special Economic Zones (SEZs), energy, trade, information technology and privatisation.

PM urges Turkish investors to deepen Pakistan footprint

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz held a series of meetings in Istanbul with senior executives of Türkiye's leading business groups and industry organisations, inviting them to expand investments in Pakistan's energy, mining and minerals, infrastructure, maritime and logistics, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture and privatisation sectors.

Istanbul: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses Pakistan-Turkiye Business Conference. pic.twitter.com/xql0MB0K5N

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 4, 2026

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the premier reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and attracting greater Turkish investment across key sectors of the economy.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting with a business delegation of Albayrak Group led by its Chairman Mr. Ahmet Albayrak in Istanbul on 4 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/ASterFKmh4

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

He also underscored the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye and stressed the need to transform the exceptional political relationship into a stronger economic and investment partnership.

The prime minister highlighted Pakistan's improving macroeconomic indicators and investor-friendly policy framework, reiterating the government's commitment to ensuring a transparent, predictable and business-friendly investment environment.

The PMO said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), working in coordination with the federal and provincial governments, continued to provide one-window facilitation and institutional support to strategic investors.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting with a delegation of Çalık Holding led by the Group's Chairman Mr. Ahmet Çalık in Istanbul on 4 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/zFwBVPxytU

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

During a meeting with Çalık Holding Chairman Ahmet Çalık, PM Shehbaz highlighted investment opportunities in Pakistan's energy, infrastructure, information technology and privatisation sectors and welcomed the company's interest in expanding its operations in the country.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting with President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in Istanbul on 4 July 2926. pic.twitter.com/KdY37H8whZ

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

He also invited the Albayrak Group to broaden its investment portfolio in maritime infrastructure, port modernisation and logistics, while acknowledging the group's contribution to Pakistan's connectivity and infrastructure development.

Structured Institutional Mechanism For Regular Interaction

In a separate meeting with the president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the prime minister appreciated the organisation's continued efforts to strengthen business-to-business engagement between the two countries.

He proposed establishing a structured institutional mechanism for regular interaction between the private sectors of Pakistan and Türkiye and invited TOBB to lead a high-level business delegation to Pakistan to explore emerging investment opportunities.

According to the PMO, Turkish business leaders expressed confidence in Pakistan's improving economic outlook and reaffirmed their interest in expanding investments and developing long-term partnerships across a wide range of strategic sectors.

Istanbul, July 4 2026.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with senior executives of Türkiye's leading business groups and industry organizations in Istanbul, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and attracting… pic.twitter.com/koKCQcLZFT

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

 PM proposes Pakistan-Türkiye Digital Corridor

In a separate meeting with Turkcell Chief Executive Officer Ali Taha Koç, Prime Minister Shehbaz shared his government's vision for establishing a Pakistan-Türkiye Digital Corridor aimed at strengthening regional digital connectivity, facilitating secure cross-border data flows and advancing digital infrastructure integration.

pic.twitter.com/QBuPNFAH2R

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 4, 2026

According to the PMO, the prime minister underscored the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation in digital technologies and invited Turkcell to explore long-term collaboration with Pakistani institutions in 5G deployment, network optimisation, spectrum management, digital infrastructure and technology transfer.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meeting with a delegation of Turkcell led by its Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ali Taha Koç, İstanbul, 4 July 2026. pic.twitter.com/3f03ls2Mbo

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

He also encouraged the company to explore partnerships in telecommunications equipment manufacturing, software development, digital skills training and capacity building.

PM Shehbaz said such collaboration would strengthen Pakistan's technology ecosystem while creating new opportunities for innovation, employment and sustainable economic growth.

"We are a country of 240 million people and out of this, 60% of our population falls in the age category of 15 to 30 years. This young population is a challenge, but it also presents a great opportunity to transform this asset of Pakistan into unimaginable economic gains and… pic.twitter.com/FtV6km0wCq

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 4, 2026

Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to maintaining a transparent, predictable and investment-friendly business environment, he said the SIFC would continue facilitating strategic investments, particularly in high-value information and communication technology sectors.

Istanbul, July 4, 2026.

Chief Executive Officer of Turkcell, Mr. Ali Taha Koç, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul today.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of deepening Pakistan–Türkiye cooperation in the digital and… pic.twitter.com/tAjX46pMbR

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 4, 2026

According to the PMO, Turkcell CEO Ali Taha Koç appreciated Pakistan's forward-looking digital transformation agenda and expressed the company's keen interest in exploring cooperation in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

He reaffirmed Turkcell's commitment to working closely with Pakistani stakeholders to build mutually beneficial partnerships that support the shared economic and technological aspirations of both countries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Istanbul on Friday on an official visit at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after attending the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

Last week, Pakistan and Türkiye signed three memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration, technical cooperation and knowledge-sharing in the power sector during high-level consultations held in Istanbul.