Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Turkiye across political, economic, energy, defence, and investment sectors.

He conveyed the message during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ashgabat on the sidelines of the International Forum marking the International Year of Peace and Trust.

Shehbaz identified energy, petroleum, and minerals as priority areas, welcoming Turkish interest in new projects.

He called for swift implementation of recently signed MoUs and agreements, noting that early progress would boost investor confidence.

The prime minister said Pakistan aimed to draw on Turkish expertise for the privatisation of power distribution companies. Both sides agreed to hold ministerial-level exchanges soon to advance discussions.

Shehbaz underscored the value of regional connectivity, highlighting the revival of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul rail corridor as a key step towards stronger trade links.

The two leaders also reviewed regional and global developments.

PM Shehbaz praised President Erdogan’s leadership on Gaza and thanked Turkiye for supporting talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. He stressed, however, that durable peace would depend on addressing Pakistan’s security concerns.

President Erdogan reaffirmed his desire to deepen cooperation and accelerate joint initiatives.