Speaking at the Turkish-Pakistan Business Forum in Istanbul, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the great support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was decisive in enabling Islamabad to mediate in the peace process between the US and Iran.
Sharif said, "Thanks to the tremendous support of my dear brother President Erdogan, Pakistan was able to mediate for the establishment of peace between the US and Iran. This was a complex and extremely difficult task. Without the sincere support of President Erdogan and other friendly and brotherly countries, it would have been almost impossible."
Noting that the ceasefire agreement reached as a result of the mediation has entered into force, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "The Islamabad Agreement was signed by US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and myself on behalf of Pakistan as mediator. Now we must seize this opportunity and use the tremendous potential of the peace process for the benefit not only of our countries but the entire region."
Also stressing the deep-rooted ties between Turkey and Pakistan in his speech, Sharif described Ankara as "one of Pakistan's most loyal allies in the world." He noted that the bonds of brotherhood between the two countries date back centuries and existed long before Pakistan's founding in 1947.
Sharif emphasized that the ideas discussed at the forum should be implemented for the benefit of both countries. Describing Turkey's industrial transformation under President Erdogan's leadership over the last 20 years as "a minor miracle," the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "Your automotive sector has reached the same level as Europe. The same goes for textiles, livestock and agriculture. We have come here to learn from your experiences and to take your extraordinary success stories as an example."
Touching on economic cooperation opportunities, Sharif announced that a special zone would be allocated for Turkish investors in the industrial park in Karachi. He also drew attention to Pakistan's rich reserves of rare earth elements and other minerals, saying, "It is time to start utilizing these natural resources through joint efforts. I see no limits to our cooperation."
Noting that 60 percent of Pakistan's 240 million population is in the 15-30 age range, Sharif said this young workforce could turn into a significant economic advantage with artificial intelligence and technology investments. The Prime Minister, who noted that comprehensive reforms have been carried out in Pakistan's energy sector and Turkey has given serious support to this process, stressed that President Erdogan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and the Turkish business world are willing to invest in Pakistan.
Reminding that the two countries have supported each other throughout history in difficult times, Sharif added that the priority is to develop cooperation between companies, and that intergovernmental mechanisms could be activated when necessary.
