FPCCI’s Pakistan-Turkey Business Council Meeting stresses need for enhanced bilateral trade and early signing of FTA

The Pakistan-Turkey Business Council of FPCCI held its meeting at FPCCI Head Office Karachi
under the chairmanship of Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir, Chairman of the Council. The meeting was
honored by the presence of H.E. Cemal SANGU Consul General of Turkey in Karachi,
accompanied by his Commercial Counselor Murat OZMEN. The meeting was also graced by
Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, and Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Maggo, Senior Vice President
FPCCI, Nasir khan, Amman Paracha, Asif Sakhi VPs along with 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 underscored the need to further expand bilateral trade and economic
relations, stating that the current trade volume does not truly 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 emphasized 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 OIC, D-8, and ECO, bilateral trade between the two
brotherly countries remains below 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