Pakistan and Türkiye have pledged deeper integration across economic and defence sectors, headlined by the creation of a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi for Turkish businesses. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made the announcement following high-level talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler.
The discussions yielded concrete plans for collaboration. Ishaq Dar revealed that a newly-established joint committee on security, defence, and intelligence will convene in Islamabad on July 24th. A separate committee focusing on the defence industry is slated to meet in September. Dar lauded Türkiye’s progress in boosting its domestic defence production from 20% to 80%, expressing Pakistan’s eagerness to learn from its ally’s expertise.
Infrastructure development featured prominently. Ishaq Dar announced the planned revival of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad railway project, aiming to spur trade and economic activity between the three nations. Delegations will meet within weeks to finalize the roadmap. Furthermore, Turkish firms will be invited to participate in major Pakistani initiatives, including the Jinnah Medical Complex, Daanish University, offshore drilling ventures, and the privatisation of power Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
Minister Fidan emphasized the broad expansion of bilateral ties, spanning economy, energy, defence, industry, education, and culture. Both nations set an ambitious target to elevate their trade volume to $5 billion. Fidan underscored the strategic significance of bolstering defence industry cooperation, calling it vital for mutual security. “It is a strategic step,” he stated.
Beyond bilateral matters, the leaders affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation for regional peace and stability, urging an immediate resolution to the Gaza conflict. Counterterrorism efforts and capacity building for Pakistan’s security personnel were also key discussion points. A meeting of the Committee on Transport and Communications is scheduled for later, adding to the busy agenda of enhanced cooperation.
