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Sharif: Pakistan works to boost flourishing commercial ties with Turkey

ANKARA, June 1 (KUNA) -- The Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed on his country's keenness to increase commercial exchange with Turkey to USD five billion for the upcoming period. The commercial exchange between both nations reached USD 1.1 billion last year, a number not meeting the high-level deep-rooted bilateral ties between both nations, Pakistan's Premier added during the Pakistan-Turkey Business Council Forum held in Ankara, capital of Turkey.
The Turkish and Pakistani businessmen are extremely willing to increase commercial and investments exchange, Sharif said.
He praised the real estate Turkish companies implementing a number of leading projects and infrastructures around the world, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and South Eastern Asia.
Sharif called on Turkish businessmen to further invest in his country, vowing to offer them all required assistance in all fields.
He expressed his thanks to the continuous support of Turkey's political leadership and people at the political and humanitarian levels, especially during the earthquakes and floods the Pakistan suffered from lately.
Pakistan will always stand by Turkey in fighting all terrorist organizations, Sharif said in response to Turkey supporting stance with Pakistan in its Kashmir cause. Meanwhile, Turkish Minister of Trade Mehmet Mus said in a speech during the forum that the commercial exchange between his country and Pakistan climbed up by 22.5 percent in 2021, compared to 2020, despite the outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19).
The volume of Turkish direct investments in Pakistan reached USD one billion, while Pakistani investments in Turkey reached USD 691 million, President of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarciklioglu affirmed.
The Turkish real estate companies implemented prominent 71 projects in Pakistan at the value of USD 3.5 billion during the last two decades, he added.
The Pakistani Premier, in his first official visit to Ankara, will later met with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss boosting bilateral ties in all domains. (end) rs.lb