Turkey holds a special place in the thin ranks of Pakistans friends. Relat-ions have been strong and harmonious between the two countries with deep strategic and political partnerships. Through-out its history, Pakistani leaders have admired the Turkish model of governance and societal development.
Ahmed Gul, Turkeys President is visiting Pakistan along with a large delegation of politicians and businessmen. The focus of the discussions is strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation, where three agreements have already been inked in the areas of agriculture, economic cooperation and investment.
President Zardari stressed on the need to translate the deep political and strategic ties of the two countries into similar trade relations. The two countries were the founding members of the regional Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and are a part of the D-8.
Though meagre, Pakistan has maintained a trade surplus with Turkey. Since 2007, Pakistans exports to Turkey have been at least twice as much as the value of imports, a balance of trade figure quite uncommon for most of Pakistans trading partners. Last year, bilateral trade was recorded at around $550 million, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.
Leaders from both Istanbul and Islamabad have renewed their resolve to achieve the $2 billion trade target in the next 18 months. That would amount to a fourfold increase in the goods and services being exchanged by the two friends. Now, this may seem a distant dream but efforts are being made in the right direction.
Some are already calling it the "Gul Train". The proposed rail link between Istanbul and Islamabad is going to be 6,500 km in length. Freight trains will enable traders to reduce transportation time from 45 days to a fortnight. A trial run was inaugurated on August 14 2009. The route is expected to become operational by the end of this summer.
Participants from the business community urged the finalization on negotiations of Pakistan Turkey Free Trade Agreement. Traders believe it will lead to reduction in duties on goods and allow market access to both economies.
The area where Pakistani economy may derive the most pertinent benefit would be in technology transfer of manufacturing, construction and energy. President Gul offered to share the Turkish experience in power generation, whereas sending students to learn from the Turks would also pay dividends for decades for Pakistans long-term economic development.
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