Foreign Minister lists key sectors for investment, sees economic diplomacy vital for Pakistan-Türkiye relations
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks at the Pakistan-Turkiye Business Conference on July 4, 2026. PHOTO: MOFA/X
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that Pakistan particularly seeks Turkish investment in key sectors such as energy, mining, minerals, power infrastructure, information technology, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, tourism and defense industries.
These sectors, the Foreign Minister said during a Pakistan-Turkiye Business Conference, “offer tremendous opportunities not only for commercial success but also for technology, transfer, industrial modernization and employment generation.”
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Sunday, Foreign Minister Dar noted during the conference that the Pakistani government “has embarked on an ambitious program of economic reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.” He added that the program aims to improve macroeconomic stability, enhance investor confidence, create an enabling environment and improve ease of doing business for business leaders and houses.
Read: Pakistan and Turkiye promise stronger economic ties and reaffirm $5 billion trade goal
With this, he highlighted the equal importance of collaboration in emerging technologies. “Artificial intelligence, digital innovation, financial technology, advanced manufacturing and research partnerships increasingly determine the competitiveness of our two economies,” he noted, adding that there is “enormous potential for our universities, research institutions and private sectors to work together in these fields.”
In his speech at the conference, the Foreign Minister noted that Islamabad and Istanbul “enjoy a unique relationship in international affairs and history.” He added that the two countries have “constantly supported each other” over decades, “whether on issues of regional peace and security, humanitarian assistance or mutual support of each other’s core national interests.”
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, “this political trust is one of the strongest assets of our two nations.”
Addressing the purpose of the conference, Foreign Minister Dar stated that the challenge facing both countries “is to transform this extraordinary political and fraternal relationship into an equally dynamic economic partnership”, adding that the international landscape is changing rapidly, the global economy is being reshaped by geopolitical competition, technological transformation, changing supply chains, energy transitions and new patterns of trade and investment.
With such changes in the global system, Foreign Minister Dar said, “countries that work together, diversify their partnerships and build resilient economic ties will be better positioned to prosper in the future.” The Foreign Minister stressed that “Pakistan and Turkiye have every reason to be among those countries.”
Discussing the strategic location of both countries, Foreign Minister Dar stated that they are “strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia.” He added that such positioning allowed Istanbul and Islamabad to “connect markets, regions and opportunities that extend far beyond our own borders.”
“This strategic geography must become an economic advantage for our two peoples,” urged Foreign Minister Dar.
Read more: Pakistan and Turkiye to improve maritime ties
Saying that today’s diplomacy is “no longer limited solely to political dialogue,” he stated, “economic diplomacy is the name of the game,” becoming “one of the main instruments through which nations create prosperity for people in the world today.”
According to the chancellor, the embassies of both nations, along with their trade missions, investment promotion agencies and business organizations must work together, more closely than ever, to facilitate trade, encourage investment and eliminate barriers that hinder entrepreneurs.
“The world is changing,” the Foreign Minister said, noting that “alliances are being built and tested, trade agreements are being renegotiated and the rules of global competition are being rewritten.” He added: “In this era of uncertainty, Pakistan and Turkiye must not only respond to changes, but we must prepare and work together to achieve excellence.”
“Let us depend on each other and on no one else,” the foreign minister said at the conference. He added that the two nations are united and can “enter all markets and compete with any company and trading house in the world, as long as we have sincerity of purpose and decide to work in unison.”
For this, he noted, there is potential. “Let us take advantage of it together for the benefit of the people of Turkiye and Pakistan,” stressed Foreign Minister Dar. He added: “May this conference send a clear message that Pakistan and Turkiye are ready to shape the future together, God willing, not only as reliable friends but as partners in regional prosperity, innovation and stability.”
Also read: Türkiye’s political crisis deepens
The Foreign Minister, along with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, arrived in Istanbul on Friday accompanying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit was made at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the aim of Prime Minister Shehbaz and Erdogan focusing on improving cooperation in trade and investment.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Turkish President expressed their commitment to increase the bilateral trade volume between Istanbul and Islamabad to $5 billion. The two also discussed ways to increase bilateral trade and investment in special economic zones.
