Pakistan-Türkiye Rail Link Can Open New Corridors for Regional Trade: ICCI President
Report: Hurish shah FT
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan, Dr. İrfan Neziroğlu, has called for transforming the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye into a stronger economic partnership through enhanced trade, investment, joint ventures and industrial cooperation.
He expressed these views during a meeting with President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia, at his residence, where he visited to offer condolences on the demise of his father and pray for the departed soul.
The Turkish Ambassador said Pakistan and Türkiye enjoy excellent relations, particularly in defence and military cooperation, but stressed the need to significantly expand commercial and investment ties to translate their historic friendship into tangible economic benefits.
He emphasized that both countries should benefit from each other's expertise, promote joint ventures and develop collaborative arrangements to access wider markets. He also described Pakistan and Türkiye as attractive investment destinations and urged businesses to explore new opportunities, particularly in infrastructure and development projects.
Dr. Neziroğlu proposed sector-specific visits by Pakistani and Turkish business delegations to establish direct business linkages. He assured that the Turkish Embassy was ready to facilitate such engagements and emphasized regular interaction between the Embassy and ICCI, alongside joint awareness programmes to highlight investment opportunities.
Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia said improved connectivity, infrastructure development and industrial collaboration were essential to unlocking the full potential of Pakistan-Türkiye economic relations.
Highlighting the importance of a Pakistan-Türkiye rail link, he said the proposed connectivity could significantly facilitate bilateral trade and provide businesses with an efficient corridor for transporting goods to regional and international markets.
The ICCI President also sought Türkiye's technical cooperation in waste recycling and waste-to-energy projects, saying modern recycling technologies could help Pakistan generate affordable energy while addressing environmental and waste-management challenges.
Commercial Counsellor Enes Malik Cetin shared his views on the existing bilateral relationship and its future prospects, highlighting opportunities for greater engagement between the business communities of the two countries.
ICCI Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan Swati, senior ICCI member Mazhar Hussain Thathal and Liaqat Ali Thathal also highlighted potential areas of trade and investment, emphasizing stronger business-to-business contacts and institutional cooperation to further strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and Türkiye.
