ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) held its inaugural briefing session at the Parliament House in Islamabad, led virtually by Ms. Munaza Hassan, MNA. This session marked a significant step in evaluating the bilateral relations between the two countries, focusing on enhancing parliamentary cooperation and mutual collaboration.

The meeting brought together PFG members including Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Barrister Danyal Chaudhary, Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli, Ms. Seher Kamran, and Ms. Huma Akhtar Chughtai.

H.E. Ms. Aisha Farooqui, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ireland, provided a comprehensive overview of the existing bilateral ties, highlighting ongoing engagements and potential areas for further cooperation.

Ms. Munaza Hassan, as the session’s convener, underscored the importance of institutionalizing inter-parliamentary engagement. She proposed a virtual meeting with the Irish Parliament’s counterpart group to foster sustained parliamentary diplomacy, aiming for practical and result-oriented outcomes.

The attendees emphasized the influential role of the Pakistani diaspora in Ireland, advocating for greater facilitation and platforms to support their contributions to bilateral relations. They also called for expanding academic connections through university partnerships and research collaborations, in addition to strengthening cultural, sports, agricultural, and educational exchanges.

The session acknowledged Mr. Ammar Ali’s achievement as the first Pakistani elected as a Councillor in Ireland, highlighting the positive impact of the Pakistani community abroad.

Members agreed that engaging with the Irish counterpart group would lead to deeper collaboration. They identified trade, education, culture, climate and environmental resilience, agriculture, and diaspora support as key areas for development. This strategy aims to enhance people-to-people connectivity and establish a robust foundation for a long-term partnership between Pakistan and Ireland.