Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan and Türkiye are ready to shape a shared future, not only as trusted friends but also as partners in prosperity, innovation, and regional stability.

Addressing the Pakistan–Türkiye B2B Conference in Istanbul, he said the two countries have consistently stood by each other on issues of regional peace and security, humanitarian assistance, and support for their core national interests.

He added that this political trust remains one of the strongest assets of the bilateral relationship and must now be translated into a dynamic economic partnership.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the international landscape is changing rapidly, with the global economy being reshaped by geopolitical competition, technological transformation, shifting supply chains, energy transitions, and evolving trade and investment patterns.

He noted that Pakistan and Türkiye are strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia, adding that together they connect markets and create opportunities beyond their borders.

He said this strategic geography must be turned into an economic advantage for both countries.

Ishaq Dar said diplomacy today is no longer limited to political dialogue but has increasingly become economic diplomacy, serving as a key tool for creating prosperity.

He stressed that Pakistan’s embassies, commercial missions, investment promotion agencies, and business organizations must work together to facilitate trade, promote investment, and remove barriers facing entrepreneurs.

He said the Government of Pakistan has launched an ambitious reform agenda aimed at improving macroeconomic stability, strengthening investor confidence, and creating an enabling business environment.

The Deputy Prime Minister invited Turkish investors to explore opportunities in energy, mining and minerals, power infrastructure, information technology, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, tourism, and the defence industry, saying these sectors offer significant potential for investment, technology transfer, industrial modernization, and job creation.

Earlier, addressing the conference, Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said Pakistan has undertaken far-reaching structural reforms in its power sector, reducing distribution inefficiencies by more than 45 percent over the past two years.

He said power distribution companies have been restructured and prepared for privatization under a broader reform agenda focused on efficiency, transparency, and improved service delivery.

He said Pakistan is fully committed to privatization and has enacted legislation barring the government from establishing or acquiring new electricity generation companies in the future.

The Minister added that competitive electricity markets have been introduced, along with an Independent System and Market Operator to ensure transparent and efficient power dispatch.

He said the National Grid Company has been restructured into two entities and is operating more efficiently than before.

Highlighting investment opportunities, he said the government is focusing on the modernization and digitization of electricity metering systems to reduce losses, curb theft, and improve transparency. He said the sector offers over 1.7 billion dollars in investment potential over the next two to three years.

Sardar Awais Leghari added that the transmission sector presents an additional investment opportunity of around 830 million dollars over the next four years, while two identified clusters worth 518 million dollars and 312 million dollars are being developed, with completion targeted by 2030.

He said feasibility and environmental studies are already underway, with bankable studies expected by next month. He added that investors will have the flexibility to participate in individual projects.

He also highlighted growing opportunities in battery energy storage systems, saying they are critical for grid stability and Pakistan's transition towards a modern and reliable power system.

He also highlighted growing opportunities in battery energy storage systems, saying they are critical to grid stability and Pakistan's transition to a modern and reliable power system.

On the occasion, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan's IT exports have been growing at an annual rate of over 20 percent for the past three years and have reached 4.5 billion dollars.

She said Pakistani freelancers contributed 1.1 billion dollars to exports this year, while over 26,000 IT companies and 75,000 tech graduates are driving the country's digital economy.

She said Pakistan is the world's fourth-largest provider of outsourced services and has over 150 million people under the age of 35.

The Minister said Pakistan has over 200 million telecom subscribers, including 157 million mobile internet users, with 97 percent of the population covered by 3G and 4G services.

She said 5G has already been enabled in eleven cities and highlighted investment opportunities in cybersecurity, semiconductors, satellites, and data centres.