Pakistan has earmarked 1,000 acres at Karachi Industrial Park for Turkish enterprises, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said on Wednesday. The government aims to attract foreign investment and deepen industrial cooperation with Türkiye through the allocation.
Khan discussed the opportunity with Türkiye’s Trade Minister Prof Ömer Bolat during bilateral talks in Istanbul. They met on the sidelines of the 42nd Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC).
He invited Turkish businesses to establish industrial units and expand their manufacturing and investment footprint in Pakistan. Both ministers reviewed economic and commercial issues and reaffirmed their commitment to stronger bilateral trade relations.
Pakistan seeks greater rice and mango exports
Agricultural exports featured prominently in the discussions, particularly Pakistani basmati rice and mangoes.
Khan thanked Türkiye for supporting Pakistan’s legitimate claims concerning basmati rice. He stressed the need for continued cooperation to protect and promote Pakistan’s premium agricultural products in international markets.
Bolat highlighted the importance of effective marketing and branding for Pakistani basmati rice in Türkiye. He said these efforts could strengthen its market presence and improve consumer recognition.
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Khan also sought Turkish support for better market access and increased imports of Pakistani mangoes. Bolat assured him of full support, recognising opportunities to expand agricultural trade between the countries.
The Turkish minister agreed to send an official delegation to Pakistan to review existing bilateral trade mechanisms. The delegation will explore practical measures to improve trade relations.
Both sides stressed sustained institutional engagement, stronger business cooperation and closer coordination to turn economic opportunities into concrete trade and investment outcomes.
The investment invitation follows earlier efforts to attract Turkish manufacturers. In July, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a 1,000-acre allocation for Turkish investors in a Karachi special economic zone.
Pakistan and Türkiye also maintain a Trade in Goods Agreement, which took effect on May 1, 2023. Their broader economic cooperation agenda includes a $5 billion bilateral trade target.
Reliable data central to OIC trade cooperation
Separately, Khan met Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, director general of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).
Selçuk outlined the institution’s ongoing activities, research initiatives and reports on trade among Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries. She highlighted its statistical information and analytical work supporting economic cooperation across Islamic countries.
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Khan praised SESRIC’s work and stressed the importance of accurate, reliable and clean data in economic research and policy analysis.
Credible statistics and evidence-based assessments help identify emerging trade trends, understand market dynamics and evaluate trade potential, he said.
He added that better data and comprehensive analysis could reveal untapped opportunities and help countries address trade barriers. These tools could also support more effective strategies for expanding intra-OIC trade.
Khan called for stronger research cooperation and reliable trade statistics to guide informed decisions and promote greater economic integration among OIC members.
