ISTANBUL, NOV 25: /DNA/ – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived here Friday on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The prime minister and his delegation were received by the Deputy Governor of Istanbul and senior officials of the government of Turkiye.

During the visit, PM Shehbaz Sharif alongside President Erdogan will jointly inaugurate the third of the four MILGEM Corvette Ships for the Pakistan Navy’s PNS Khaibar at the Istanbul Shipyard.

The two leaders will also hold wide-ranging discussions encompassing bilateral relations, regional situation and other issues of common interest.

The prime minister will also interact with leaders of the Turkish business community.

The president of the ECO Trade and Development Bank (ETDB) will also call on the prime minister during his stay in Istanbul.

Pakistan and Turkiye enjoy fraternal ties deeply embedded in commonalities of faith, culture and history and underpinned by exceptional cordiality and mutual trust.

The MILGEM project, based on joint collaboration between the two countries, represents a significant milestone in the Pakistan-Turkiye strategic partnership that continues to progress on an upward trajectory.

The launching ceremony for the first Corvette for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Babur, was performed in Istanbul in August 2021 while the groundbreaking for the Second Ship, PNS Badr, was held at Karachi in May 2022.

Frequent leadership level exchanges are a defining feature of the eternal bonds of Pakistan-Turkiye friendship.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier visited Turkiye in May-June 2022.