Islamabad: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed his country's commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Trkiye in fields such as trade, investment, technology, and defense, a statement from his office said. During a meeting with the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yasar Guler in Islamabad, Sharif underscored the longstanding ties between Pakistan and Trkiye that are rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual respect.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sharif was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, army chief Gen. Asim Munir, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik, and other senior officials. The premier also expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of bilateral relations.

Recalling his interactions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the year, including a recent meeting on the margins of the 17th ECO Summit, Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad's resolve to transform Pakistan-Trkiye relations into a strategic partnership. Welcoming the convening of the Joint Commission's meeting, co-chaired by Dar and Fidan, he expressed hope that bilateral relations would gain further momentum.

While reiterating the commitment of both countries to support each other's core interests, Sharif emphasized the need for closer coordination amidst the evolving regional and global environment. He expressed gratitude to the Turkish nation and leadership for their support of Pakistan during recent hostilities with India.

Stressing the need for efforts to enhance bilateral trade to reach the target of $5 billion, he highlighted Islamabad's investor-friendly policies and invited Turkish companies to expand their investments in Pakistan. He also invited the Turkish side to assist in Pakistan's structural reforms, economic growth, and development efforts.