ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to arrive in Istanbul on Saturday at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing key regional and international developments.
The meeting comes amid rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, renewed diplomatic activity and growing international efforts to promote regional stability.
According to diplomatic sources, Sharif and Erdogan will review the full spectrum of Pakistan-Turkey relations, including cooperation in defense, trade, investment, energy, information technology, industry, regional connectivity and strategic partnership.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss ways to further expand the strategic partnership established in recent years and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Regional security is expected to feature prominently in the discussions, with the leaders likely to exchange views on the situations in Gaza, Iran, Syria and the broader Middle East, as well as counterterrorism, energy security and the changing global geopolitical landscape.
Pakistan and Turkey, both close partners of Iran, are also expected to consult on efforts to promote lasting peace, regional stability and dialogue amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Diplomatic observers say Islamabad and Ankara share a common position favoring diplomacy, economic cooperation and regional stability over confrontation.
Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to address the Pakistan-Turkey Business Forum in Istanbul, which will be attended by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, ministers from both countries, senior government officials, leading industrialists, investors and representatives of the business community.
The forum aims to showcase Pakistan's investment opportunities to Turkish businesses, with particular emphasis on Special Economic Zones (SEZs), energy, information technology, infrastructure, manufacturing, trade and privatization.
More read, PM emphasizes constitutional supremacy on Parliament Day
During the visit, Sharif is also expected to hold separate meetings with chief executives of leading Turkish business groups to discuss investment opportunities in Pakistan, government incentives, the ease of doing business and new avenues for bilateral economic cooperation.
