Pakistan and Thailand have agreed to deepen bilateral ties by expanding parliamentary cooperation and boosting economic, cultural and people-to-people links. The Thai Ambassador in Islamabad met with the Pakistan–Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Parliament House, where both sides outlined steps to strengthen trade, tourism, education, information technology and skills development, and discussed establishing a counterpart friendship group in the Thai Parliament.
The meeting was chaired by Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, Deputy Convener of the Pakistan–Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Group. Delegates reaffirmed the long-standing friendship between the two countries and highlighted shared historical connections, including Pakistan’s Gandhara heritage, as a cultural bridge linking the nations.
Participants emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing bilateral relations and proposed sustained exchanges between lawmakers to support cooperation across multiple sectors. A proposal to set up a similar parliamentary friendship group in Thailand was put forward to institutionalize legislative-level ties and promote regular dialogue.
Economic cooperation featured prominently on the agenda. The Thai delegation expressed interest in doubling bilateral trade and advancing a Free Trade Agreement. Both sides identified expanded opportunities in the services sector and the halal food industry, and called for policies to create a more business-friendly environment to encourage investment and commercial partnerships.
Tourism, culture and connectivity were also priorities. Delegates discussed measures to increase direct flights, facilitate travel, and broaden cultural and business linkages to boost tourism and people-to-people contact. Education, information technology and skills development were highlighted as areas for enhanced collaboration to support long-term economic growth.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue parliamentary exchanges as a mechanism for strengthening ties at the popular level and fostering sustainable cooperation. Both sides expressed confidence that sustained engagement would deepen friendship and promote mutual development.
