ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan and Türkiye would keep pushing for dialogue and diplomacy while strengthening their defences under the Makkah Defence Agreement, calling the pact an “important milestone” in their cooperation.
“It strengthens our collective deterrence and reinforces our shared commitment to regional peace and stability,” Shehbaz said at an event in Islamabad marking Türkiye’s 103rd national day, referring to the agreement signed on August 7 by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. “While we strengthen our defences, we shall continue to champion dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
‘Stood firmly by our side’
The prime minister thanked Ankara for its diplomatic support during Marka-i-Haq in May last year, when India’s aggression against Pakistan led to a four-day conflict. “Türkiye stood firmly by our side with unwavering commitment and dedication. This sincere act of solidarity was a profound source of comfort and strength for the people of Pakistan,” he said.
He described relations between the two countries as a “multifaceted strategic partnership” covering political dialogue, defence, trade, culture and people-to-people ties.
Erdogan economic zone
Shehbaz said the economic partnership needed to match the strength of the political and strategic bond, recalling that he had announced the President Tayyip Erdogan Special Economic Zone in Karachi at a Pakistan-Türkiye business conference in Istanbul in July. The two countries have set a target of $5 billion in annual trade.
“Now I invite Turkish businessmen to look at Pakistan with its young population, strategic location and growing economic opportunities,” he said. “Let us translate the goodwill between our two peoples into joint ventures, shared prosperity and meaningful jobs for our young people.”
