Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that Pakistan and Turkiye are working together to set up a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi aimed at attracting Turkish entrepreneurs.
Dar made the remarks during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who arrived in Islamabad earlier in the day for an official visit.
Turkiye’s Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler is also visiting Pakistan.
Dar said, “In line with our efforts to expand economic cooperation, we are moving forward with plans to establish a Special Economic Zone exclusively for Turkish businesses in Karachi.”
The move follows a pledge made earlier this year to raise bilateral trade between the two nations to $5 billion. That commitment came during a visit to Islamabad by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in February.
Turkish ministers reached Islamabad early Wednesday for a two-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, according to the Foreign Office.
Read More: Turkiye Seeks Stronger Defense Industry Collaboration With Pakistan
This marks Fidan’s second visit to Pakistan, with his last trip taking place in May last year.
The Turkish delegation was received at the airport by Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani, who serves as Additional Secretary for West Asia in Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Officials from both countries have described the visit as another sign of the historically close ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, a bond shaped by common traditions, cultural closeness, and mutual respect.
Islamabad and Ankara enjoy strong bilateral relations built on common cultural, religious, and historical bonds, as well as mutual respect.
On Tuesday, Pakistan had extended condolences to Turkiye after twelve Turkish soldiers died of methane exposure in Iraq during a search mission in the Claw-Lock Operation zone a day earlier.
“We pray for the martyrs and extend our sympathies to their families,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated.
Read More: Pakistan, Turkiye Vow to Deepen Bilateral Ties
Just days ago, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the ECO summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan. The two leaders reaffirmed their intent to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as trade, defense, energy, connectivity, and investment.
Their meeting followed an earlier high-level interaction in February, during which both sides committed to achieving a bilateral trade target of $5 billion, signalling a renewed push towards deeper economic collaboration.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
