The Pakistan-Turkey Business Council of the FPCCI held its meeting at the FPCCI Head Office in Karachi, under the chairmanship of Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir, Chairman of the Council. The meeting was honoured by the presence of H.E. Cemal SANGU, Consul General of Turkey in Karachi, accompanied by his Commercial Counsellor Murat OZMEN. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of FPCCI, and Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Maggo, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, along with Nasir Khan, Amman Paracha, Asif Sakhi, Vice Presidents, as well as prominent business leaders Hanif Gohar, Mian Zahid Hussain, and members of the Council.
In his address, Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, welcomed the Consul General of Turkey and his delegation. He emphasised the need to expand bilateral trade and economic relations further, noting that the current trade volume does not accurately reflect the historic brotherly ties and close diplomatic relations between the two nations. He highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional linkages and private sector cooperation to unlock the full potential of Pakistan-Turkey trade.
Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Maggo, Senior Vice President FPCCI, in his remarks, reaffirmed FPCCI’s commitment to facilitating greater business-to-business linkages between Pakistan and Turkey. He appreciated Turkey’s continued support in various sectors and expressed optimism that stronger economic partnerships would benefit both nations. He called upon both governments to create a more enabling environment for trade and investment through swift policy measures.
Delivering his keynote remarks, Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir emphasised the urgent need for the early signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Turkey. He noted that, despite the shared membership of platforms such as the OIC, D-8, and ECO, bilateral trade between the two brotherly countries remains below its potential. He pointed out that bilateral trade has stagnated at under US$1 billion, with Pakistan’s share standing at approximately US$ 366 million in 2024.
He highlighted that Pakistan’s exports to Turkey — including textiles, denim, sports goods, surgical instruments, and rice — are in high demand and can play a vital role in balancing trade. He further stressed that improvements in trade routes, banking channels, and logistics connectivity would help bilateral trade flourish and meet the expectations of the two nations’ business communities.
The Consul General of Turkey appreciated FPCCI’s efforts in promoting bilateral trade and assured the Council of Turkey’s willingness to explore new avenues of cooperation. He reiterated that both countries have great potential to expand trade in sectors such as construction, tourism, engineering, and food processing.
