Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Turkiye and Pakistan Look to Enhance Cooperation

Strategic Insights -

Pakistan and Turkiye, two brotherly nations, enjoy deep-rooted historical ties, with Turkiye keen to strengthen cooperation in sectors including defense, tourism, business, agriculture, and higher education. As Ambassador of Turkiye, Irfan Neziroglu, met with business leaders at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), emphasizing the need for a mindset shift, seeing both nations as one, working in unison towards common goals. The meeting was attended by LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman, Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry, and other executive committee members.

Key Takeaways:

  • **Mindset Shift:** Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu emphasized the need for a mindset shift, stressing that Turkiye and Pakistan are one nation and must work together for a common purpose.
  • **Trade and Economic Ties:** The Ambassador highlighted immense potential to boost trade and economic ties between the two brotherly nations, with a focus on multiple sectors including defense, tourism, business, agriculture, and higher education.
  • **Preferential Trade Agreement:** The Preferential Trade Agreement, signed in 2022, has paved the way for expanding two-way trade, with Turkiye providing 261 tariff lines for easier market access.
  • **Pakistan's Exports to Turkiye:** Pakistan's exports to Turkiye stood at USD 323 million in 2022-23, rising to USD 335 million in 2023-24, and USD 221 million from July to March in the current fiscal year (2024-25).
  • **Turkiye's Global Trade Stature:** Turkiye's exports surpassed USD 260 billion, while imports reached nearly USD 344 billion in 2024.
  • **LCCI's Objectives:** The LCCI aims to reduce its trade deficit with Turkiye and increase the total trade volume to at least USD 5 billion.
  • **Chambers of Commerce Cooperation:** The LCCI expressed its willingness to establish strong ties with leading chambers of commerce in Turkiye, under the Ambassador's guidance.

Statistics:

  • **Pakistan's Exports to Turkiye (2022-23):** USD 323 million
  • **Pakistan's Exports to Turkiye (2023-24):** USD 335 million
  • **Pakistan's Exports to Turkiye (July to March 2024-25):** USD 221 million
  • **Turkiye's Exports (2024):** USD 260 billion
  • **Turkiye's Imports (2024):** Nearly USD 344 billion
  • **LCCI's Target Trade Volume with Turkiye:** At least USD 5 billion

Sources:

  • "Lahore -- Ambassador of Turkiye Irfan Neziroglu has said that Turkiye and Pakistan enjoy deep-rooted historical ties."
  • "Turkiye is keen to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in multiple sectors including defence, tourism, business, agriculture and higher education."