Ghulam Murtaza
Istanbul is a city unlike any other, where Europe meets Asia across the Bosphorus and where more than 1,500 years of history continue to live alongside a vibrant, modern society. Its strategic location between Europe, Asia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean has made it one of the world’s most important cities. Once the capital of the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul remains a major centre of commerce, tourism, culture and international relations.
For Pakistanis, however, Istanbul carries a significance that goes beyond geography and history. There is a natural warmth and affection between the peoples of Pakistan and Türkiye that is difficult to explain merely in diplomatic terms. It is a relationship rooted in shared values, historical connections and mutual respect.
The city itself reflects a fascinating combination of European modernity and Islamic heritage. Its contemporary lifestyle carries a strong European influence, while its Muslim identity and Ottoman legacy remain deeply visible. Its mosques, palaces and museums offer visitors an extraordinary journey through centuries of Islamic history. For Muslim visitors, Topkapı Palace has a particularly profound significance. The sacred relics preserved there, associated with the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), members of his family and his Companions, provide a deeply moving connection with the earliest history of Islam. For many Muslim visitors, an Istanbul journey feels incomplete without seeing these priceless collections.
The recent visit of an approximately 200-member business delegation of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) demonstrated that the historic relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye has considerable potential to evolve into a much stronger economic partnership.
The Business Opportunity Conference held at the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus brought together Pakistani and Turkish business leaders for extensive B2B interaction. The meetings resulted in a number of understandings and memoranda of understanding between companies and opened new possibilities for investment, trade and joint ventures.
The participation of the Deputy Governor of Istanbul added considerable significance to the event. His presence, along with the excellent cooperation extended by his secretariat, reflected the institutional goodwill that exists towards Pakistan. The presentation of awards to leading Pakistani businessmen was a particularly welcome gesture and contributed to the warmth of the occasion.
The delegation was also fortunate to receive strong support from Pakistan’s Consul General, Mr. Khawaja Khurram Naeem, who played an active role in facilitating the visit and encouraging Turkish businesses to explore opportunities in Pakistan. He emphasized that the government has recognized the need to make corporate taxation more reasonable and competitive to attract investment.
He also drew attention to the opportunities available to Türkiye’s textile industry in Pakistan. With an established textile manufacturing base, skilled human resources and access to regional markets, Pakistan offers considerable potential for Turkish companies seeking investment, manufacturing partnerships and new markets.
The delegation received encouragement from almost every quarter and encountered strong sentiments of friendship towards Pakistan. There was some disappointment at the absence of the expected reciprocity from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. However, this was substantially mitigated by the warmth shown by its Chairman of the Board, Mr. Recep Öztürk, and Secretary General, Mr. Barat Nas. Both demonstrated genuine affection for Pakistan and expressed their desire to organize a delegation of leading Turkish companies to Islamabad.
Such reciprocal business visits could prove more important than formal declarations. Commercial relationships are built through repeated interaction, personal trust and the willingness of companies to explore opportunities together. The proposed Turkish business delegation to Islamabad could therefore become an important next step in converting goodwill into practical economic cooperation.
The message delivered by ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood to the Turkish business community was equally important. Pakistan-Türkiye relations, he argued, should move beyond traditional friendship and conventional trade towards investment, joint ventures, technology transfer and long-term business partnerships. Pakistan’s geographical position gives it an important strategic advantage. Its connectivity through CPEC and its proximity to China, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regional markets provide opportunities for Turkish companies to establish production, distribution and investment partnerships in Pakistan.
Türkiye, with its industrial capabilities, technological expertise and access to European markets, can in turn offer Pakistani businesses opportunities for collaboration and expansion.
The challenge is to convert the political and emotional strength of the relationship into an equally strong economic relationship.
Istanbul itself remains one of the world’s great tourist destinations. From the Bosphorus and the Princes’ Islands to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Galata Tow-er and the city’s historic bazaars, its attractions are virtually endless. Even the cats roaming freely through its streets have become part of the city’s character.
The city is generally clean, well organized and exceptionally attractive to visitors. But what makes Is-tanbul truly remarkable is its ability to bring different worlds together. It is simultaneously European and Asian, modern and historic, secular in its public character yet unmistakably shaped by its Islamic and Ottoman heritage.
Türkiye itself presents an interesting governance model. Broadly comparable to Pakistan in geograph-ical size but with a smaller population, it is divided into 81 provinces administered through a relatively streamlined structure. Governors are appointed by the President, while deputy governors form part of the senior provincial bureaucracy, with districts serving as important administrative units. The rela-tively clear relationship between political leadership and the administrative machinery is a visible fea-ture of Turkish governance.
The country is nevertheless facing considerable economic pressures, particularly inflation and the de-preciation of the Turkish lira. These challenges have affected purchasing power and the cost of living. At the same time, Türkiye’s industrial base, infrastructure and skilled workforce continue to provide significant opportunities for international business.
No account of the ICCI delegation’s visit would be complete without acknowledging the invaluable contribution of H.E. Mr. Irfan, Ambassador of Türkiye to Pakistan, and Mr. Enes Malik, Türkiye’s Com-mercial Counsellor in Pakistan.
Ambassador Irfan has demonstrated that diplomacy is ultimately an art of understanding people, building trust and creating bridges between nations. Despite not being a career diplomat, he has shown a remarkable ability to connect with the Pakistani business community. His affection for Paki-stan has been evident in his interactions and engagement.
I say this with complete sincerity: without his personal support, encouragement and facilitation, the ICCI business delegation to Istanbul would not have achieved the same level of success and warmth. His contribution deserves special recognition, as does the dedicated support provided by Mr. Enes Ma-lik in strengthening commercial relations between the two brotherly countries.
The Istanbul experience has therefore left behind much more than pleasant memories. It has created relationships, opened doors for investment and trade, and demonstrated that the foundation of Paki-stan-Türkiye friendship remains exceptionally strong.
The warmth of the Turkish people, the encouragement extended by government officials and busi-ness leaders, and the business understandings reached during the visit provide a strong basis for the next phase of bilateral relations.
Istanbul leaves visitors with an unforgettable impression of a city where East meets West, Europe meets Asia and modern life exists alongside a magnificent Muslim legacy. For Pakistan’s business community, however, the real opportunity lies beyond admiration and goodwill.
The time has come to translate friendship into investment, joint ventures, technology transfer, trade and lasting economic partnerships.
The friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye is already historic. The task before both countries is to make their economic partnership equally enduring.
—Ghulam Murtaza is a free lance and regular contibutor and can be contacted at <[email protected]>
