Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, inspected a guard of honour presented by Pakistan’s armed forces at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Thursday.
After the ceremony, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Sharif met with cabinet members and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir.
Turkish President Erdogan Arrives in Pakistan
President Erdogan arrived in Islamabad just after midnight on Thursday, receiving a warm welcome from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz hailed Erdogan as a “visionary statesman” who has transformed Turkey. “Under his dynamic leadership, the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Turkey have grown from strength to strength,” he wrote.
Erdogan’s two-day visit follows his trip to Indonesia, and both leaders are determined to elevate their countries’ strong relationship even further. “With this historic visit, we are ready to carry these strong ties to even greater heights,” PM Shehbaz added.
Pakistan and IAEA Strengthen Partnership
In related news, Pakistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) renewed their commitment to enhancing their partnership on Wednesday, focusing on the peaceful use of nuclear technology and continuing their long-standing collaboration.
Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Erdogan are set to co-chair the seventh session of the Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), according to the Foreign Office. A joint declaration, along with agreements and MoUs, is expected to be signed at the end of the session. The two leaders will also address a joint press conference.
During his visit, President Erdogan will hold bilateral talks with both PM Shehbaz and President Zardari. Together with PM Shehbaz, he will address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum, which will bring together leading investors and business leaders from both countries.
The HLSCC is the highest decision-making forum aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey. The council has various Joint Standing Committees (JSCs) covering sectors such as trade, investment, banking, energy, defence, agriculture, tourism, health, IT, and more. Six sessions of the HLSCC have been held, with the most recent one taking place in Islamabad in February 2020.
