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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is greeted by local customs upon his arrival in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Photo: ONLINE
ACHEGABAT:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan and discussed issues of common interest.
During their warm and cordial meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated the Turkmen President on the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality and the UN designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.
While emphasizing the importance of historical and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkmenistan, the Prime Minister expressed his determination to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, including through strengthening trade and economic ties.
The Prime Minister expressed his deepest gratitude to the Turkmenistan leadership and government for supporting the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran during the Iran-Israel war earlier this year.
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s desire to strengthen connectivity with Turkmenistan through land and sea routes and said the ports of Karachi and Gwadar were ideally located for use by the Turkmen side to strengthen its outreach to South Asia and beyond.
While thanking the President of Turkmenistan for the gracious hospitality extended to him and his delegation, the Prime Minister conveyed warm wishes to the National People’s Leader of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and reiterated his most cordial invitation to him and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to undertake official visits to Pakistan next year, on mutually convenient dates, to be agreed by both sides.
The Turkmen President thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and participation in the International Peace and Trust Forum and assured that Turkmenistan is also keen to strengthen its bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in multiple areas of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister arrived in Ashgabat for a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan to participate in the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan, on December 11-12, 2025.
He was accompanied by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other cabinet members and senior government officials.
