The Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Thursday met with Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu to discuss bilateral cooperation in IT, telecommunications, and digital transformation.

The Ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan-Trkiye’s strong ties, recalling Pakistan’s support during Trkiye’s recent earthquake and emphasizing regional cooperation amid global challenges.

He also announced the Turkish President’s visit to Pakistan next week. Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu highlighted Trkiye’s digital transformation, including 67 million e-state users, 8,000 digital services, technoparks, private IT firms, and advancements in 5G and AI. He stressed the importance of leveraging Pakistan’s young talent for technological progress and identified shared interests in IT and telecom.

Shaza Fatima welcomed greater tech collaboration, assuring that Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) is committed to global partnerships.

She praised Trkiye’s e-governance progress and highlighted Pakistan’s Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, focusing on economic growth, e-governance, and digital identity.

She emphasized B2B opportunities between NITB and Trkiye’s TurkSat and stressed skills over degrees in the digital economy. The envoy proposed focal persons from both sides to establish a roadmap for IT cooperation in 2025, advocating direct ministry and industry engagements beyond formal visits.

Both sides agreed to expand partnerships in IT, 5G, AI, and digital transformation, strengthening Pakistan-Trkiye ties in the digital era.