ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECO CCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh has proposed convening a Pakistan-Türkiye joint business meeting to boost bilateral trade to the $5 billion target set by the two countries' leadership, according to a statement on Thursday. The proposal has been conveyed to the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) as a follow-up to the recent meeting between the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the President of Türkiye in Istanbul.
Private Sector Responsibility
Sheikh said the leadership of both countries has provided clear direction for strengthening economic relations, and it is now the private sectors' responsibility to complement these efforts through stronger business-to-business engagement. He observed that despite longstanding brotherly relations, bilateral trade remains below potential.
Current Trade Figures
During 2025, Pakistan's exports to Türkiye stood at $369.2 million, while imports from Türkiye were $866.5 million, taking total trade to $1.236 billion. Pakistan's principal exports to Türkiye include rice, textile yarn, garments, leather products, sports goods and surgical instruments. Türkiye exports machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, electrical equipment, plastics and processed food to Pakistan.
Industrial Complementarities
Sheikh stressed that both countries possess strong industrial complementarities that can be leveraged to increase trade. The proposed meeting would bring together leading businessmen, exporters and investors to identify new avenues of cooperation, facilitate joint ventures and strengthen supply chain linkages. Pakistan and Türkiye are prominent members of the Economic Cooperation Organisation.
