Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, met with a Turkish business delegation in Islamabad to discuss concrete steps for expanding Turkish investment in Pakistan. The meeting saw participation from senior private and public sector representatives including the CEOs of PIDC, SMEDA and the Engineering Development Board, reflecting a coordinated push to translate policy into projects.
Speakers agreed to explore joint ventures and targeted investment opportunities aimed at raising bilateral trade from the current level of one billion dollars toward a potential five billion dollars. Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasized that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s vision is to strengthen ties with brotherly countries and that Pakistan is introducing regulatory reforms to ease doing business for foreign investors.
The Turkish delegation highlighted interest from major textile brands, including LCW, to enter the Pakistani market, and requested permission to open Turkish bank branches in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore to support transactions. Haroon Akhtar Khan assured that letters of credit and other banking facilitation would be made available to assist Turkish investors and exporters, reinforcing confidence in cross-border trade finance.
Delegates discussed accelerating the Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad trade corridor to improve regional connectivity and facilitate faster movement of goods. Officials noted that Pakistan’s land lease policy provides viable options for investors to establish manufacturing units, and that a national industrial policy prepared under the direction of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif includes investor-friendly measures.
To streamline support for incoming Turkish projects, a special committee will be established to assist investors with approvals and facilitation. Participants agreed on broad cooperation across sectors and to pursue joint projects that leverage Turkish expertise and Pakistani market potential, underscoring the role of Turkish investment in driving industrial growth.
Officials and private sector representatives left the meeting committed to follow-up actions to convert interest into tangible investments and partnerships, with an emphasis on textiles, industrial ventures and banking arrangements that will underpin expanded trade and long-term economic collaboration.
