Pakistan has allocated 1,000 acres of land at Karachi Industrial Park for Turkish investors as part of its efforts to attract foreign investment, expand industrial cooperation and strengthen economic ties with Türkiye, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan announced on Wednesday.
The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting between Jam Kamal Khan and Türkiye’s Minister of Trade, Prof. Ömer Bolat, on the sidelines of the 42nd Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul. The Pakistani minister invited Turkish companies to establish industrial units, expand manufacturing operations and take advantage of investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Both ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations. Jam Kamal appreciated Türkiye’s support for Pakistan’s position on basmati rice and stressed the need for continued cooperation to protect and promote Pakistani agricultural products in international markets.
The commerce minister also sought Türkiye’s support in improving market access for Pakistani mangoes and increasing their exports to the Turkish market. In response, Bolat highlighted the importance of effective marketing and branding to enhance the recognition and market presence of Pakistani basmati rice in Türkiye. He also assured support for increasing imports of Pakistani mangoes.
In another important development, the Turkish trade minister agreed to send an official delegation to Pakistan to review existing bilateral trade arrangements and identify practical measures to improve commercial relations.
Both sides emphasised the importance of stronger institutional engagement, increased private-sector cooperation and closer coordination to turn investment and trade opportunities into concrete economic outcomes.
Separately, Jam Kamal Khan met Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), during the COMCEC session.
The SESRIC director general briefed the minister on the organisation’s research activities, statistical initiatives and reports on trade among member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). She also highlighted its role in providing reliable data and economic analysis to support cooperation among member states.
Jam Kamal stressed that accurate and reliable statistics were essential for effective economic research, policy development and identifying emerging trade opportunities. He noted that improved data quality and comprehensive trade analysis could help OIC countries address trade barriers, explore untapped markets and increase trade among member states.
The minister also called for stronger research-based cooperation and greater use of reliable trade statistics to support informed policymaking and promote economic integration across the Islamic world.
The allocation of 1,000 acres at Karachi Industrial Park, alongside discussions on agricultural exports and a proposed Turkish trade delegation, reflects Pakistan’s efforts to deepen economic cooperation with Türkiye and attract new industrial investment.
