Turkish investors eye Pakistan's strategic sectors

Türkiye’s leading business groups and industry organisations expressed confidence on Saturday in Pakistan’s economic outlook. They reaffirmed their interest in expanding investments and developing long-term partnerships across a range of strategic sectors on Saturday.

The development came as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with senior executives of Türkiye’s leading business groups and industry organisations in Istanbul, read a press statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

During the meetings, the PM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and attracting greater Turkish investment across key sectors of the economy.

According to the official statement, the PM met Chairman of Çalık Holding, Ahmet Çalık, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Albayrak Group, Ahmet Albayrak and the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

“During the meetings, the prime minister underscored the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye and emphasised the importance of translating the two countries’ exceptional relationship into a stronger economic and investment partnership,” PMO said.

READ MORE: PM Shehbaz arrives in Istanbul on bilateral visit to strengthen Pakistan-Türkiye ties

The premier highlighted Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic fundamentals, investor-friendly policy framework and the government’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, predictable and business-friendly investment environment.

“The PM invited Turkish companies to expand their investment footprint in Pakistan’s priority sectors, including energy, mining and minerals, infrastructure, maritime and logistics, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture and privatisation,” as per the press release.

During the meetings, PM Shehbaz noted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), working in close coordination with the relevant federal and provincial authorities, continued to provide one-window facilitation and institutional support for strategic investors.

In his meeting with Çalık Holding, the prime minister emphasised Pakistan’s significant opportunities in energy, infrastructure, information technology and privatisation.

He also welcomed the company’s interest in expanding its operations in Pakistan, noting that its existing presence through Çalık Enerji and GAP İnşaat provides a strong foundation for deeper cooperation.

“The prime minister also appreciated Albayrak Group’s longstanding engagement in Pakistan and encouraged the company to further expand its investments in maritime infrastructure, port modernisation, and logistics, recognising its important contribution to Pakistan’s connectivity and infrastructure development.”

Meanwhile, in his discussion with the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the premier appreciated the organisation’s continued efforts to strengthen business-to-business engagement between Pakistan and Türkiye.

He proposed establishing a structured institutional mechanism for regular interaction between the private sectors of both countries and invited TOBB to lead a high-level business delegation to Pakistan to explore emerging investment opportunities firsthand, according to FO.

“The Turkish business leaders appreciated the Government of Pakistan’s economic reforms, improving investment climate and investor-friendly policies,” concluded the statement