Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, reiterating the close bond between Pakistan and Turkiye, said the two nations were “two hearts with one soul”, while emphasising that the bilateral economic partnership was “entering a new phase”.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Istanbul with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his official visit to Turkiye. The two leaders had held a bilateral meeting prior to the press briefing.
In his remarks, PM Shehbaz described discussions with Erdogan as “very comprehensive and productive discussions”.
“We expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, while reviewing concrete steps to unlock the full potential of our economic partnership,” he elaborated.
PM Shehbaz remarked that a “tremendous reservoir of goodwill” between the two nations provided them a “unique and ideal opportunity to achieve our mutually-agreed target of $5bn in bilateral trade”.
“Pakistan and Turkiye have always stood firmly beside one another on issues of fundamental national importance,” he said, affirming that Islamabad will continue to stand firmly with Ankara over the issue of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s “profound appreciation for Turkiye’s principled and unwavering support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their legitimate right to self-determination”.
“President Erdogan and I reaffirmed our shared belief that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect remain the only sustainable path to resolving disputes and preserving international peace and security,” he emphasised.
The premier extended his “deep and sincere appreciation for Turkiye’s strong and steadfast support” for Pakistan’s peace efforts that culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed on June 18 to end the US-Iran war.
“The future of Pakistan-Turkiye relations is infinitely promising and bright,” PM Shehbaz remarked.
He asserted that the decisions made “today will not remain words on paper, but they will translate into greater trade, stronger investment, deeper strategic cooperation and above all, a better future for our peoples”.
“Turkiye’s success is Pakistan’s success; Pakistan’s progress is Türkiye’s progress,” the prime minister said, assuring Erdogan of Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to further strengthen their countries’ partnership.
PM Shehbaz had begun his address by thanking the Turkish side’s hospitality and hailing the “unique friendship” between the two nations forged through shared history and common faith.
“Pakistan has always found its home in the hearts of the people of Turkiye, just as Turkiye lives in the hearts of every Pakistani,” he remarked.
He noted that the people of both countries stood together in moments that “shaped the course of history”, such as Turkiye’s War of Independence, when Muslims of the subcontinent supported Turkiye’s efforts for independence.
“Mothers took off their bangles, young daughters gave away their cherished jewellery, and countless families sacrificed their savings — a remarkable expression of love and solidarity,” the premier said.
He added: “But little did our forefathers know that this selfless generosity would be one day returned by the people of Turkiye with even greater compassion, affection and brotherhood.”
Highlighting that Turkiye always stood with Pakistan during difficult times, PM Shehbaz said: “That spirit of solidarity was reciprocated with remarkable generosity whenever Pakistan faced adversity.
“Whether during war, devastating earthquakes or catastrophic floods, the people of Turkiye stood firmly by Pakistan,” he said, recalling Erdogan’s visit to flood-affected areas of Pakistan in 2010 and his wife Emine Erdogan donating her necklace to support flood victims.
The prime minister further pointed out that under Erdogan’s instructions, a Turkish company set up a modern hospital, a school and model villages in Muzaffargarh.
“Today, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital and Emine Erdogan School continue to provide high-quality medical treatment to patients and high-quality education to our children,” he said.
“This gesture is a lasting testament to Turkiye’s compassion and enduring brotherhood between our two nations. This is why we proudly say Pakistan and Turkiye are two hearts with one soul,” the premier remarked.