PM Shehbaz invites Turkish investors to expand business across Pakistan’s key sectors

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on Turkish companies to increase their investments in Pakistan, highlighting a wide range

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on Turkish companies to increase their investments in Pakistan, highlighting a wide range of opportunities across strategic sectors including energy, mining, infrastructure, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, manufacturing, maritime services, logistics and privatisation.

The invitation came during a series of meetings with senior executives from some of Türkiye’s largest business groups and industry organisations in Istanbul, where the prime minister is on an official visit. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Türkiye and attracting greater foreign investment to support the country’s long-term development goals.

During the discussions, the prime minister emphasised the strong historical and brotherly relationship shared by Pakistan and Türkiye, saying the time had come to transform those close diplomatic ties into a deeper economic and investment partnership. He stressed that stronger business collaboration between the two countries would benefit both economies and create new opportunities for growth.

Shehbaz also highlighted Pakistan’s improving economic indicators, pointing to recent macroeconomic stability and reforms aimed at creating a more attractive environment for investors. He assured Turkish business leaders that the government remains committed to maintaining a transparent, predictable and business-friendly investment climate designed to encourage long-term partnerships.

The premier noted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) continues to play a central role in supporting foreign investors by providing one-window facilitation and coordinating with federal and provincial authorities to ensure the smooth implementation of strategic investment projects.

In a meeting with Çalık Holding Chairman Ahmet Çalık, Prime Minister Shehbaz discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, information technology and privatisation sectors. He welcomed the company’s interest in expanding its presence in Pakistan and encouraged further collaboration in these high-potential industries.

The prime minister also met representatives of the Albayrak Group, inviting the company to increase its investment in maritime infrastructure, port modernisation and logistics. He acknowledged the group’s existing contribution to Pakistan’s transport and connectivity sectors and expressed hope for broader cooperation in the future.

During talks with the president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Shehbaz appreciated the organisation’s efforts to strengthen business-to-business cooperation between the two countries. He proposed establishing a structured mechanism for regular engagement between Pakistani and Turkish private sectors and invited TOBB to lead a high-level business delegation to Pakistan to explore emerging investment opportunities firsthand.

According to the PMO, Turkish business leaders expressed confidence in Pakistan’s improving economic outlook and reaffirmed their interest in expanding investments and building long-term partnerships in multiple strategic sectors.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz met Turkcell Chief Executive Officer Ali Taha Koç to discuss cooperation in digital technologies and telecommunications. During the meeting, he presented Pakistan’s vision of creating a Pakistan–Türkiye Digital Corridor to improve regional digital connectivity, facilitate secure cross-border data flows and strengthen digital infrastructure.

The prime minister invited Turkcell to explore collaboration in areas including 5G deployment, network optimisation, spectrum management, digital infrastructure and technology transfer. He also encouraged partnerships in local telecommunications equipment manufacturing, software development, digital skills training and capacity building.

Shehbaz said enhanced cooperation in digital technologies would help strengthen Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem, generate employment opportunities and support sustainable economic growth. Turkcell’s CEO welcomed Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda and expressed the company’s interest in exploring long-term partnerships in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

The visit follows the recent signing of three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between Pakistan and Türkiye aimed at strengthening cooperation, technical collaboration and knowledge sharing in the power sector, further reflecting the growing economic partnership between the two countries.