The Pakistan–Finland Parliamentary Friendship Group held a consultative session at Parliament House in Islamabad, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through enhanced trade, institutional collaboration, and closer parliamentary ties between the two countries.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Sharmila Sahibah Faruqui Hashaam, MNA and Convener of the Group. The session brought together H.E. Mr. Hannu Ripatti, Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan; Mr. Bilal Haye, Ambassador of Pakistan to Sweden (who participated virtually); senior officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce; as well as representatives from the Pakistan–Finland Business Council. Several prominent Members of the National Assembly, including Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, Mr. Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, and Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, also took part in the discussions. The business council was represented by Chairman Mr. Shahzad Sabir and Vice Chairman Mr. Pervez Haroon.
Dr. Sharmila emphasized the group’s role as an important platform to boost people-to-people contacts and to provide solutions to challenges faced by business sectors in both countries. During the meeting, participants discussed issues related to trade and export facilitation, identified opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as mining, small and medium enterprise (SME) partnerships, and education, and explored ways to further boost bilateral trade and investment.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce reiterated their commitment to supporting sector-specific initiatives through coordinated efforts. Ambassador Ripatti encouraged the submission of concrete proposals and provided assurance of Finland’s continued interest in expanding long-term commercial and parliamentary cooperation with Pakistan.
The meeting also explored the possibility of organizing a high-level parliamentary exchange in the near future. Participants agreed to continue working together through regular follow-up engagements, both online and in person.
The session closed with a collective determination to turn the goodwill and mutual interest between Pakistan and Finland into practical and structured partnerships, supported by ongoing coordination among parliamentary, diplomatic, and business stakeholders.
