ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation of Turkish aerospace and defense manufacturers visited the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) this week to discuss joint ventures, co-production and technology-sharing opportunities with Pakistani counterparts, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Thursday.

The visit comes as Pakistan and Türkiye move to deepen their defense and aerospace ties. Ankara has become one of Islamabad’s most significant partners in military hardware, including the supply of MILGEM-class warships, upgrades for Agosta-90B submarines and transfer of drone technology, while Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Turkish Aerospace Industries have collaborated in aircraft modernization, avionics and training. Both countries also maintain close political and military cooperation as part of a long-standing strategic partnership.

On Thursday, a Turkish delegation, representing the Bursa Aerospace and Defense Cluster Association (BASDEC) and Türkiye’s Defense Industry Agency, met PEC Chairman Engr. Waseem Nazir to explore opportunities for joint ventures, co-production, technology transfer and long-term industrial partnerships, according to the APP report.

APP said representatives from fourteen Turkish aerospace and defense firms — including ERFA Torna, Bizpark (Ucaksan), FTS Tasarim, LEVKA, MFK, Milla Otomotiv, ONS Makine, Stamplast, Coskunoz Metal Form, Defense Systems, Rena Mekatronik, ETKA-D Otomotiv, COMIT and BASDEC — “presented their capabilities and explored avenues for collaboration, including Research and Development partnerships, co-production, localized manufacturing, and technology sharing.”

PEC Chairman Nazir briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s regulatory environment, ongoing engineering-sector reforms, digital modernization and efforts to align local industry with global standards. He praised Türkiye’s rapid advances in defense innovation and reaffirmed PEC’s commitment to strengthening international engineering linkages.

Officials from both sides discussed mechanisms for structured cooperation, including professional certification pathways, skill development programs and joint innovation initiatives aimed at supporting future industrial partnerships.

APP said the visit marked “a significant step toward deeper, technology-driven Pakistan–Turkiye engineering relations,” with both sides expressing commitment to expanding long-term aerospace and defense-sector cooperation.