Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday, where they agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and security.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York and focused on enhancing bilateral relations as well as discussing regional and global issues, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Both leaders reviewed preparations for the upcoming 7th session of the Pakistan-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), set to be hosted in Islamabad. They also addressed pressing matters, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to hostilities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed his gratitude for Türkiye’s steadfast support for the people of India-held Kashmir. President Erdoğan commended Sharif’s economic policies, highlighting his efforts to stabilize Pakistan’s economy and implement essential reforms. He also extended birthday wishes to Sharif, who recently celebrated his 73rd birthday.
Separately, the Prime Minister congratulated Erdoğan on his impactful speech at the UN General Assembly, where Erdoğan condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza and criticized Western nations for their support of Israel. “The way the Turkish president highlighted the issue resonated with everyone in the Assembly hall,” Sharif remarked.
Erdoğan’s address emphasized the erosion of UN and Western values amid the conflict, calling for an “alliance of humanity” to stop the violence in Gaza. He strongly criticized Israel’s military campaign and the support it receives from Western countries, stating, “Along with children in Gaza, the United Nations system is also dying… the hopes of humanity for a fairer world are dying one by one.”
Sharif reaffirmed the strong brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, confirming that Erdoğan is expected to visit Pakistan soon. When asked about Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sharif stated it is in the final stages of approval, thanking China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE for their vital support in securing the deal despite challenging conditions set by the IMF.
He is also scheduled to meet IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva to finalize the agreement. Reflecting on his government’s efforts to address Pakistan’s economic challenges, Sharif expressed gratitude for the progress made and pledged to continue serving the people of Pakistan
