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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is greeted by local customs upon arrival in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Photo: ONLINE
ASKHABAT:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, on Thursday and discussed matters of mutual interest.
During their warm and cordial meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated the Turkmen president on the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality and on the UN designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.
While underlining the importance of historical and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkmenistan, the Prime Minister expressed his determination to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, particularly through greater trade and economic engagement.
The Prime Minister conveyed his deepest gratitude to the Turkmen leadership and government for the support provided in safely evacuating Pakistani citizens from Iran during the Iran-Israel war earlier this year.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to improve connectivity with Turkmenistan through land and sea routes and said the ports of Karachi and Gwadar were ideally located to be used by the Turkmen side to enhance its reach to South Asia and beyond.
While thanking the Turkmen President for the kind hospitality extended to him and his delegation by the Turkmen side, the Prime Minister conveyed his warm wishes to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen People and reiterated his warmest invitation to him and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to make official visits to Pakistan next year at mutually convenient dates to be agreed upon by both sides.
The Turkmen President thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and participation in the International Forum on Peace and Trust and assured that Turkmenistan was also interested in enhancing its bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in multiple areas of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister arrived in Ashgabat, on a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan to participate in the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan from December 11 to 12, 2025.
He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other cabinet members and senior government officials.
