PM Shehbaz departs for two-day official visit to Turkmenistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing connectivity with Turkmenistan, highlighting the strategic importance of Karachi and Gwadar ports during a meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Ashgabat on Thursday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The two leaders held a warm and cordial meeting, during which Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Berdimuhamedov on Turkmenistan’s 30th anniversary of Permanent Neutrality and the UN designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

PM Shehbaz underscored the importance of the historic and fraternal relations between the two countries, expressing his determination to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in trade and economic engagement. He emphasised that both ports are ideally located to facilitate Turkmenistan’s access to South Asia and beyond.

Shehbaz Sharif also thanked the Turkmen leadership for their support in safely evacuating Pakistani nationals from Iran earlier this year during the Iran-Israel conflict.

During the meeting, PM Shehbaz extended a formal invitation to both President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to visit Pakistan next year. The two sides will coordinate dates for the visits based on mutual convenience.

President Berdimuhamedov expressed his gratitude for PM Shehbaz’s visit and participation in the International Forum on Peace and Trust. He assured PM that Turkmenistan is eager to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in various areas of mutual interest.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), during the visit, PM Shehbaz will participate in a high-level forum marking the International Year of Peace and Trust 2025, the International Day of Neutrality. The statement also highlighted that Pakistan and Turkmenistan continue to strengthen their relationship across multiple sectors.

Earlier in April, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to the timely completion of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, a major regional energy initiative. This commitment was reiterated in a meeting between Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and President Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat.