ISTANBUL – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has credited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with helping Pakistan secure a mediation role in efforts to end the conflict between the United States and Iran, describing the diplomatic mission as one of the most challenging undertaken by the country.
Speaking at a Pakistan-Turkiye Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference in Istanbul and later during a joint press conference with President Erdogan, the prime minister also called for transforming the strong political relationship between the two countries into deeper economic and investment cooperation.
Shehbaz is in Turkiye on an official visit focused on boosting bilateral trade, investment and regional cooperation.
Peace efforts
Addressing the business forum, the prime minister said Istanbul symbolised the connection between Asia and Europe, while describing Turkiye as one of Pakistan's strongest and most sincere allies.
He said the friendship between the two countries dated back to Turkiye's War of Independence, when Muslims of the Indian subcontinent, led by the Ali Brothers, strongly supported the Turkish freedom movement.
Shehbaz said Turkiye had stood firmly with Pakistan during every difficult period, including wars, earthquakes and floods.
He said Pakistan was able to undertake mediation between Washington and Tehran with President Erdogan's sincere support, alongside assistance from other friendly countries.
"It was not an easy task," the prime minister said, describing the mission as an uphill diplomatic challenge. He added that Pakistan made every effort in good faith during the negotiations, and that the eventual ceasefire became possible with God's grace.
He urged both sides to make full use of the opportunity created by the peace process and turn it into broader regional cooperation and prosperity.
Speaking alongside Shehbaz after their bilateral meeting, President Erdogan said the entire world had breathed a sigh of relief following the calm achieved through the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United States and Iran on June 18 to end their war.
He acknowledged reports highlighting the complexity of the negotiations and congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz and the people of Pakistan for their significant contribution to achieving the agreement.
Erdogan reaffirmed that Turkiye had supported, and would continue to support, every initiative aimed at reducing regional tensions and resolving disputes through diplomacy.
At the start of his remarks, the Turkish president also expressed condolences over Friday's road accident near the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border that claimed 40 lives.
Focus on trade
The two leaders met at Istanbul's Vahdettin Palace after an official welcome ceremony before holding delegation-level talks.
According to Pakistan's Foreign Office, discussions covered the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on strengthening trade and investment while also reviewing regional peace and security.
Speaking at the B2B conference, Shehbaz said the time had come to convert decades of friendship into practical economic partnerships.
He praised Erdogan's leadership, saying Turkiye had undergone a remarkable industrial transformation over the past two decades.
The prime minister pointed to the country's advances in automobile manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, livestock and other industries, describing Turkiye's economic progress as a model Pakistan wished to learn from.
He also highlighted new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and industrial development created by Turkiye's economic growth.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz attended the conference alongside Pakistani ministers, including Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Power Minister Awais Leghari and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The event showcased Pakistan's investment potential across special economic zones, energy, information technology, trade and privatisation.
Push for investment
Earlier in the day, Shehbaz held separate meetings with senior executives from some of Turkiye's leading companies and business organisations.
He invited Turkish firms to expand investments in Pakistan's energy, mining and minerals, infrastructure, maritime services, logistics, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture and privatisation sectors.
The prime minister said Pakistan remained committed to providing a transparent, predictable and business-friendly investment environment, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions. He also highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), saying it continued to provide one-window support for strategic investors in coordination with federal and provincial authorities.
PM Shehbaz invites Turkish firms to expand investment in Pakistan
During meetings with business leaders, Shehbaz encouraged Çalık Holding to increase its presence in Pakistan, particularly in energy, infrastructure, information technology and privatisation.
He also invited the Albayrak Group to expand investments in maritime infrastructure, port modernisation and logistics, recognising the company's contribution to Pakistan's connectivity projects.
In discussions with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkiye (TOBB), the prime minister proposed a structured mechanism for regular engagement between private sectors in both countries and invited a high-level Turkish business delegation to visit Pakistan and explore emerging investment opportunities.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Turkish business leaders expressed confidence in Pakistan's economic outlook and reaffirmed their interest in expanding long-term investments across strategic sectors.
Digital partnership
Shehbaz also met Turkcell Chief Executive Officer Ali Taha Koç to discuss establishing a Pakistan-Turkiye Digital Corridor aimed at strengthening regional digital connectivity and facilitating secure cross-border data flows.
He invited Turkcell to explore long-term cooperation in 5G deployment, network optimisation, spectrum management, digital infrastructure and technology transfer.
The prime minister also encouraged collaboration in telecommunications equipment manufacturing, software development, digital skills training and capacity building, saying such partnerships would support innovation, employment and sustainable economic growth.
Turkcell welcomed Pakistan's digital transformation agenda and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.
During his address, Shehbaz also referred to Pakistan's recent conflict, saying the country's armed forces, under the leadership of the field marshal, had delivered a response that would become part of history.
He said Pakistan defended its sovereignty and dignity when war was imposed on the country and thanked Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and other friendly nations for supporting Pakistan's position during the crisis.