Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing regional connectivity with Turkmenistan, emphasising the strategic importance of the Karachi and Gwadar ports as key gateways for expanded trade and transit. The remarks came during his meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat on Thursday, where the two leaders discussed deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
PM Shehbaz arrived in Ashgabat for a two-day official visit on the invitation of President Berdimuhamedov. During their warm and cordial meeting, the prime minister congratulated the Turkmen leader on the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality and the UN’s designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.
Highlighting Pakistan and Turkmenistan’s historic and fraternal ties, Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to further expand cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and regional integration. He noted that Karachi and Gwadar ports are ideally positioned to facilitate Turkmenistan’s access to South Asian, Middle Eastern and global markets — a development that could significantly boost regional economic activity.
The prime minister also thanked Turkmen authorities for facilitating the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran earlier this year during the Iran–Israel conflict, acknowledging the gesture as a symbol of strong bilateral relations.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz extended a formal invitation to both President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Turkmenistan’s National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to visit Pakistan in 2025. Both sides agreed to coordinate dates based on mutual convenience.
President Berdimuhamedov expressed appreciation for PM Shehbaz’s participation in the International Forum on Peace and Trust, assuring him of Turkmenistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Pakistan in areas of shared interest, including energy, transit trade, communication infrastructure and cultural exchanges.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz will attend a high-level forum marking the International Year of Peace and Trust 2025 and the International Day of Neutrality. The PMO stressed that Pakistan and Turkmenistan continue to strengthen their engagement across political, economic and regional development frameworks.
The visit comes as both countries reaffirm their commitment to the timely completion of the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline, a major regional energy initiative. Earlier in April, Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal met President Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, where both sides reiterated the importance of accelerating progress on the mega pipeline project to meet South Asia’s growing energy needs.