ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have vowed to further strengthen the strategic partnership between their countries, including the fight against terror.

PM Shehbaz, who arrived in Ankara for a two-day visit on Tuesday, also addressed a joint press conference alongside President Erdogan, who reiterated his country’s support to Pakistan and vowed to increase defence and economic ties.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Shehbaz thanked the Turkish president for supporting Pakistan in difficult times, including the floods of 2010 and 2022. He stressed that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Balochistan Liberation Army were involved in terrorism in Pakistan, adding that both countries could jointly work to eliminate them.

According to a PM Office statement, in their meeting, the two leaders underscored the enduring fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Premier holds joint presser with Turkish president; meets representatives of Chinese space tech firm

PM Shehbaz emphasised the importance of enhancing economic collaboration, especially through joint ventures and bilateral investments.

He also highlighted the potential for cooperation in the fields of energy and mining, joint ventures in defence and agri-production, enhancing regional and bilateral connectivity to boost trade and enhance people-to-people exchanges, and deepening cooperation in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and cyber-security.

PM Shehbaz and President Erdogan also discussed regional and global matters, and reaffirmed their support to each other on issues of national interest. The two also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected population.

President Erdogan also appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for the Palestine cause and its humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.

Earlier, upon his arrival at Esenboga Airport, PM Shehbaz was received by Turkish Minister of Defence Yasar Guler, Deputy Governor of Ankara Zafer Orhan, President of the Pakistan-Turkiye Cultural Association Burhan Kayaturk, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye Yousaf Junaid, senior Turkish government officials, and members of the Pakistani diplomatic mission.

Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Information Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi accompanied the premier.

Space tech & climate change

Ahead of his arrival in Turkiye, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held several meetings on Tuesday, emphasising that Pakistan and other countries affected by climate change required special financial assistance from international financial institutions to fight future challenges.

In a meeting with International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Secretary General Luc Triangle in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was among the countries most affected by climate change. “The 2022 floods alone caused losses amounting to $30 billion.”

He said the government was ensuring that efforts for climate adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable communities also protect the livelihoods of economically disadvantaged groups. The ITUC Secretary General Luc Triangle commended Pakistan’s commitment to democratic values and appreciated the measures taken to improve the welfare of workforce in the country.

In a separate meeting with a delegation from the Chinese space technology company Galaxy Space, led by the company’s Chairman Xu Ming, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan is keen to increase cooperation with China in the fields of space technology, space satellites, telecommunications, and satellite internet.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025