The Pakistan–Finland Parliamentary Friendship Group held a consultative session at Parliament House in Islamabad, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through increased trade, institutional cooperation, and expanded parliamentary ties. The meeting brought together prominent lawmakers, business leaders, and diplomats from both countries, who discussed new avenues for collaboration and addressed challenges facing their respective business communities.
Dr. Sharmila Sahibah Faruqui Hashaam, the Convener of the Group, emphasized its role as a key platform for fostering connections between the people of Pakistan and Finland. She highlighted the importance of the group in bridging gaps and overcoming obstacles faced by businesses operating in both countries.
The session featured participation from Finland’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Hannu Ripatti, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Sweden, Bilal Haye, as well as senior representatives from Pakistan’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce and members of the Pakistan–Finland Business Council. Several members of the National Assembly, including Shaista Pervaiz, Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, and Farah Naz Akbar, were actively involved in the discussions.
Key topics on the agenda included tackling barriers to trade and export, promoting sector-specific partnerships in mining, small and medium enterprises, and education, and exploring new investment and business opportunities. Government representatives reiterated their commitment to supporting these efforts through coordinated institutional action.
Ambassador Ripatti encouraged the submission of detailed proposals to overcome existing hurdles and reaffirmed Finland’s interest in developing long-term commercial and parliamentary cooperation with Pakistan. The group also considered organizing a high-level parliamentary exchange in the future to further strengthen ties.
As the meeting concluded, participants agreed to maintain momentum through ongoing engagement, both virtually and in person. There was a shared determination to turn mutual goodwill into structured cooperation by coordinating efforts across parliamentary, diplomatic, and business spheres.
