He noted that the ports of Karachi and Gwadar are strategically placed to support Turkmenistan’s access to South Asia and wider markets.

Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Turkmenistan on Thursday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of President Berdimuhamedov. Both leaders held a warm meeting in which the prime minister congratulated Turkmenistan on the 30th anniversary of its Permanent Neutrality and on the UN’s designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

He stressed the importance of the historic ties between the two countries and said he aimed to strengthen cooperation, especially in trade and economic engagement. He also thanked the Turkmen leadership for assisting with the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran earlier this year during the Iran-Israel conflict.

During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif invited both President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to visit Pakistan next year, with dates to be decided through mutual coordination. The Turkmen president expressed appreciation for the visit and said Turkmenistan was ready to expand cooperation across areas of shared interest.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif will take part in a high-level forum marking the International Year of Peace and Trust 2025 and the International Day of Neutrality. The statement noted that cooperation between Pakistan and Turkmenistan continues to deepen across multiple sectors.

Earlier in April, both countries had reiterated their commitment to completing the TAPI gas pipeline project during a meeting between Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and President Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat.