Islamabad: Pakistan and Turkiye on Monday resolved to further solidify their economic ties by increasing investments and bilateral trade volume.                  

The commitment was expressed during meeting between Ambassador of Turkiye to Pakistan Mehmet Pacaci and Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema in Islamabad on Monday (today).                            

The meeting discussed holding next session of High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council soon to work on ways for increasing bilateral trade volume to five billion dollars.                       

The meeting was centered on enhancing brotherly relations with a focus on elevating economic cooperation to new heights.                                                 

In this regard, establishment of a branch of Turkish bank in Pakistan was also discussed.    

The Minister reiterated Pakistan's commitment to continue working closely to realize the full potential of the bilateral relationship and enhance cooperation across various sectors.                       

He highlighted that Special Investment Facilitation Council aims at attracting investments from friendly countries and there is huge potential for Turkish investment in Agricultural Machinery and Equipment and Large Scale Corporate Farming.      

The Minister stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration through Government-to-Government (G2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) arrangements. 

On the occasion, the Ambassador reiterated Turkiye's eagerness to explore avenues for expanding bilateral trade and fostering cooperation in energy, banking, commerce, railways, and tourism.

Islamabad: South Korea on Monday expressed the desire to enhance its bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in a number of areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, investment, IT, culture, tourism and people to people exchanges.

This desire of the Korean Government was expressed by Korean Ambassador Korean Park Ki Jun during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday (today).

The Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister on behalf of the Korean leadership upon his re-election. Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Korean leadership for the warm message of greetings that he received and expressed the desire to work closely to further strengthen bilateral ties.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan and Korea enjoy good relations, particularly in trade and investment. He said both countries had cooperated since the early 1960s for economic development and conveyed admiration for Korea's remarkable transformation into a modern technologically advanced economy.

He said that Pakistan is keen to learn from Korea's experience of industrialization and SME sector growth as well as in the field of IT including artificial intelligence.

Shehbaz Sharif also offered to enhance export of skilled manpower from Pakistan to meet Korea's human resource needs.

To promote mutually beneficial trade, he proposed the exchange of business delegations between Seoul and Islamabad. In this regard, the Prime Minister said he would instruct relevant Cabinet Ministers to coordinate with the Korean side to discuss existing investments by Korean companies as well as to explore new opportunities.

Shehbaz Sharif also extended an invitation to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to undertake an official visit to Pakistan.

Islamabad: Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country while, very hot in southern parts during the next twelve hours.

However, rain-wind and thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and adjoining hilly areas.

Dust raising and gusty winds with light rain/thunderstorm may occur at few places in south Punjab and upper Sindh.

Temperature of major cities recorded this morning:

Islamabad and Gilgit fifteen degree centigrade, Lahore twenty-three, Karachi twenty-nine, Peshawar twenty,  Quetta twelve, Muzafarabad fourteen and Murree ten degree centigrade.    

According to weather forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, partly cloudy weather with chances of light rain and thunderstorm is expected in Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Baramula, while partly cloudy and dry weather in Leh and hot and dry weather in Jammu.

Temperature recorded this morning:                

Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian ten degree centigrade, Jammu twenty-one, Leh six, Pulwama and Baramula eleven degree centigrade.