By Adnan Hameed
TWA
_____
A significant step towards bolstering economic collaboration between Pakistan and Turkiye was taken today as Minister for Finance & Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, welcomed Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Mehmet Pacaci, at the Finance Division for a constructive discussion on mutual interests and bilateral relations.
Ambassador Pacaci extended warm felicitations to Minister Aurangzeb on his recent appointment and expressed optimism for further strengthening the economic bonds between the two nations.
In reciprocation, Minister Aurangzeb acknowledged the enduring brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkiye, rooted in shared faith, history, and cultural ties. He underscored the need to translate these strong ties into tangible economic cooperation.
Highlighting the robust political and social relations, Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of enhancing economic and commercial collaboration to its fullest potential. He lauded the Trade in Goods Agreement/Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed on August 12, 2022, as a significant milestone towards achieving the bilateral trade target of USD 5 billion in the medium term.
The Minister also briefed the Turkish Ambassador on Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), designed to attract investments from friendly nations across various sectors. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to boost trade and investment through Government-to-Government (G2G) and Business to Business (B2B) channels.
Both parties reflected on the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in 2010, aimed at fostering a Strategic Economic Framework (SEF) for cooperation in energy, banking, commerce, railways, and tourism sectors. They noted the ongoing implementation of a Joint Plan of Action under the SEF.
