The Pakistan–Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group convened its first briefing session at Parliament House, Islamabad on March 5, 2026 under the convenership of Ms. Shamaila Rana, MNA. Members of the group present included Mr. Daniyal Ahmed, Mr. Ahmad Atteeq Anwer, Ms. Samar Haroon Bilour, Ms. Tamkeen Akhtar Niazi, Ms. Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi, Ms. Shazia Farid, Ms. Natasha Daultana, Ms. Neelam Kumari and Ms. Saeeda Jamshid. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce attended the session, while Pakistan’s Ambassador to Cambodia joined virtually.
In her opening remarks the Convener welcomed participants and underlined the need to deepen parliamentary engagement between Pakistan and Cambodia. She highlighted that the Parliamentary Friendship Group provides an important platform for inter-parliamentary dialogue and people-to-people contact, and expressed hope that the Pakistan Cambodia group would help expand parliamentary interaction and practical cooperation between the two countries.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a comprehensive briefing, noting that high-level interactions have been limited but that Cambodia has shown growing interest in enhanced cooperation with Pakistan. The briefing recorded Pakistan’s offer to facilitate the opening of a Cambodian diplomatic mission in Pakistan as a step likely to strengthen bilateral ties. Officials also recalled that Pakistan was among the early countries to recognise Cambodia and that bilateral engagement has widened in recent years, especially in trade, economic cooperation and parliamentary exchanges.
The session reviewed mechanisms of cooperation, including trade-related engagement and institutional dialogue, and referenced the role of the Second Joint Trade Commission meeting and ministerial-level interactions in identifying new avenues for collaboration. Officials and members highlighted opportunities in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather goods and travel-related products as immediate areas for increased economic engagement between Pakistan and Cambodia.
During the discussion members stressed the importance of enhancing parliamentary diplomacy and strengthening people-to-people links. They called for targeted cooperation in trade, tourism, education, information technology and cultural exchange, and agreed that the Parliamentary Friendship Group should actively pursue visits, joint initiatives and institutional contacts to translate dialogue into concrete outcomes for both countries.
