ANKARA ( WNAM MONITORING ): Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler on Tuesday said Turkish contractors have completed 72 major projects in Pakistan worth $3.5 billion, mainly in transportation, housing, and energy.
“When we look at our bilateral trade figures, our trade volume exceeded $1.4 billion last year, marking a 35% increase compared to the previous year,” Guler said at the 16th Session of the Türkiye-Pakistan Joint Trade Commission (JEC) held in Islamabad.
He said both sides need to work harder to reach higher levels, aiming to boost trade and investments in a sustainable and balanced way, to achieve the $5 billion trade target set by the leaders as soon as possible.
Guler recalled that significant decisions were taken in various sectors, including trade, water resources, agriculture, energy, culture, family and social services, science, banking, education, defense, and health, during the recent High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting held in Pakistan.
Cooperation beyond trade
He emphasized that the Trade in Goods Agreement, which entered into force in 2023, has helped accelerate bilateral trade.
Guler noted that Türkiye expects the agreement to be expanded in the upcoming period to include sectors such as services, investments, and e-commerce, emphasizing that cooperation between the two countries extends beyond trade alone.
Stressing that Türkiye and Pakistan have always stood shoulder to shoulder on global issues, the minister noted that defense industry cooperation remains one of the strongest pillars of the bilateral partnership.
He emphasized that the JEC Protocol will serve as a roadmap to further strengthen cooperation in various areas, including SMEs, education, and health care.
He expressed satisfaction that the meeting resulted in concrete steps to enhance Türkiye-Pakistan relations.
Following the JEC session, Guler also met with his Pakistani counterpart, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in Islamabad, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
