PM’s Visit to Turkiye Seen as Catalyst for Economic Growth

Karachi: The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has expressed optimism about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Turkiye. Junaid Naqi, the president of KATI, described the visit as a significant step toward enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries.

In a recent statement, Naqi voiced confidence that the visit would mark a new chapter in economic ties and strengthen bilateral trade and industrial collaboration. He noted that Turkiye is a long-standing strategic partner of Pakistan, highlighting the importance of building on these strong relations amidst the current global environment.

Naqi emphasized the necessity of practical measures to meet the $5 billion bilateral trade target, citing last year’s record-high trade volume of $1.4 billion as a positive indicator of progress. He expressed hope that this momentum would continue, particularly in critical sectors such as textiles, machinery, IT, and food processing.

Additionally, Naqi pointed to Turkiye’s interest in operationalizing the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul trade corridor, describing it as a “potential game-changer” that could provide Pakistani exporters with easier access to European and Middle Eastern markets.

Naqi expressed high expectations from the meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and President Erdogan. He suggested that effective implementation of both leaders’ visions could lead to a significant boost in Pakistan’s exports, industrial output, and foreign direct investment.

In conclusion, Naqi conveyed optimism about new opportunities for Pakistani industrialists in areas like digital trade and energy. He urged that local industries should directly benefit from future partnerships with Turkiye.