Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday while assuring his government’s all-out support, urged the business community of Pakistan and Turkey to take the bilateral trade to the $5 billion mark within next three years.

“The $1.1 billion trade is nothing… Let us resolve to take the two-way trade to $5 billion… Let us do it speedily. The time and tide wait for none,” the prime minister said addressing a dinner reception hosted by the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Riffat Hisarciklioglu in his honour.

The prime minister, along with a high-level delegation, is on his maiden visit to Turkey, since he assumed office on April 11, this year.

A huge number of businessmen from Turkey Pakistan Business Forum, Turkish and Pakistani investors and officials from the Boards of Investment of Turkey and Pakistani attended the event.

The prime minister said the government had done away with all the impediments to the business sector and urged the Turkish investors to invest their capital in multiple sectors like agriculture, IT, dairy, textile, and many other fields.

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“My investors are my masters. Come to Pakistan. We will genuinely roll out the red carpet for them,” the prime minister remarked.

The prime minister also assured the Turkish investors that they would face no hurdles in their future ventures in Pakistan, as they had been doing over the last four years.

He said under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey had achieved tremendous progress with its companies executing gigantic projects in multiple fields including dams and infrastructure building across the globe.

Speaking high of warm reception given to him and his delegation, the prime minister said the two countries enjoyed fraternal relations, dating back centuries.

He also thanked the Turkish people and the leadership for supporting Pakistan during the earthquake and floods, besides showing its unwavering support for the Kashmir cause. The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s stance to support Turkey on the Cyprus issue.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by a high-level government delegation,  arrived in Turkey on a three-day official visit.

Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was presented a guard of honor by a smartly turned out contingent of the Turkish Army at Ankara Esenboga International Airport.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and other high officials warmly welcomed the Prime Minister and his delegation at the airport.

Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday departed to Turkey on a three-day official visit.

Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Investment Board Chaudhry Salik Hussain, PM’s Special Assistants Tariq Fatemi and Fahad Hussain also accompanied the prime minister. While Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would also arrive Turkey to join the delegation.

On his Twitter handle, the prime minister posted his views prior to his departure to Turkey. He said that time has arrived for Pakistan and Turkey to further leverage on their excellent bonds to upgrade the bilateral ties as era of regional connectivity and shared development called for fresh approach.

“Departing for visit to Turkey. Time has come for Pakistan & Turkey to leverage their excellent bonds to upgrade bilateral ties. Era of regional connectivity, shared development & common destiny calls for a fresh approach. Look forward to discussing this with my brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” the prime minister said in a tweet.

During his visit, the prime minister will have tete-a-tete with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan which would be followed by delegation-level talks.

Besides, covering the entire gamut of Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relations, the two leaders will exchange views on regional and international issues. Both leaders will address a Joint press stakeout after their meetings. President Erdogan will host a dinner in honour of the prime minister.

A business delegation from Pakistan comprising representatives of leading companies across various sectors will travel separately to Turkey to participate in the business engagements.

This year, Pakistan and Turkey are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

During the visit, the prime minister of Pakistan and the president of Turkey would jointly unveil a logo, marking the commencement of celebrations of this important milestone in the long history of exceptional bilateral ties.

The Turkish ministers of foreign affairs, trade, and health would call on the prime minister during the visit.

The prime minister will have extensive interaction with leading Turkish businessmen and potential investors from diverse sectors.

He will be hosted by President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). The prime minister will also attend a Pakistan-Turkey Business Council Forum, hosted in collaboration with DEIK (Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board).

During these events, he will highlight Pakistan’s vast investment potential and encourage Turkish companies to invest in Pakistan and work to strengthen Pakistan-Turkey trade and economic ties. Prominent businessmen from Pakistan will participate in these events and will also hold B2B meetings on the sidelines.

The foreign office spokesperson in a separate press release said that the historic and long-standing relations between Pakistan and Turkey were firmly anchored in common faith, shared history, and a glorious tradition of mutual support to each other on issues of core interest.

The relationship between Pakistan and Turkey is underpinned by structured institutional mechanisms. The High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) is the primary platform at the leadership-level, which has been instrumental in further cementing bilateral relations. So far, six sessions of the HLSCC have taken place. The 7th session is slated to take place this year.

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“The Turkish leadership and the government have steadfastly supported the just cause of Kashmir. Turkey is an important and active member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The two countries have convergent views on a range of issues including peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Palestine, and countering Islamophobia,” it was added.

“Besides being part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries, the Prime Minister’s visit to Turkey is important in the context of deepening and broadening bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, regional connectivity, health, education, culture and people-to-people relations. It will help in further strengthening the leadership dialogue and existing multi-dimensional strategic relationship between the two countries and will impart fresh impetus to the efforts to take this unique partnership to new heights,” the spokesperson said.

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