Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday announced that Pakistan and Turkiye are working to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi, adding the two countries are also aiming to revive the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Islamabad, he noted that both countries enjoy strong bilateral ties built on shared cultural, religious and historical bonds. The extent of this brotherhood is difficult for any third party to understand, he said.
Dar, who is also the foreign minister, said Islamabad allocated land for the construction of a Maarif School in Muzaffarabad. A delegation of the Turkish Maarif Foundation is visiting Muzaffarabad today to evaluate the site, he added.
According to the minister, Turkish companies would also participate in offshore drilling projects and the privatization of electricity distribution companies in the power sector. “We are actively engaged in different activities, including capacity building and counterterrorism,” he said, adding Turkish companies are also under consideration for the Jinnah Medical Complex and Daanish University megaprojects in Islamabad.
Appreciating Turkiye’s indigenization of its defence industry from, Dar said Pakistan hoped to benefit from Ankara’s experience and expertise.
Echoing Dar’s remarks, his Turkish counterpart said defense cooperation would be further strengthened in the coming days, describing it as a “strategic step.” Fidan said the cooperation was very important for the security of Pakistan and Turkiye, stressing both countries would continue supporting each other to counter terrorism.
Referring to the recent Pakistan-India conflict, Fidan appreciated “Pakistan’s wisdom-oriented attitude.” He said the two countries are intensifying their cooperation in energy, as well as mining, precious stones, natural gas and oil. The two countries, he maintained, has also expanded their relations in other fields such as the economy, education and culture.
Fidan reiterated the countries’ stated aim to boost their commercial relations to $5 billion and expressed the firm resolve to take Pakistan-Turkiye relations to a higher level.
Turkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler is also visiting Pakistan.