On Thursday, October 2, 2025, the Pakistan–Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group led by Convener MNA Munaza Hassan met with Ambassador Mary O’Neill and Deputy Head of Mission Declan Johnston at Parliament House in Islamabad to deepen parliamentary engagement and practical cooperation.
The convener recalled the opening of Ireland’s embassy in Pakistan in 2024 and the parliamentary study visit to Ireland in January 2025, highlighting how those exchanges informed Pakistan’s lawmaking and committee practices. She proposed a virtual introductory meeting with the counterpart PFG in the Irish Parliament as an initial step toward regular group-to-group and committee-to-committee exchanges to solidify Pakistan Ireland ties.
Discussions emphasized collaboration on climate policy, renewable energy and climate resilience, while members underlined opportunities in advanced agriculture and environmental sustainability. The group also flagged youth and sports diplomacy, expanded academic exchanges and stronger linkages between the Women’s Parliamentary Caucuses to advance gender-responsive legislation and leadership.
Recognising Ireland’s growing role as a European technology hub, the convener invited cooperation in the digital economy, IT skills exchange, research and innovation. Specific areas mentioned for future partnership included digital workforce development and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and fintech, reflecting a shared interest in translating parliamentary dialogue into economic and technical collaboration.
The group expressed appreciation for Ireland’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine, a decision noted as significant by Pakistan and widely acknowledged internationally. Members also acknowledged the long-standing contributions of Irish educators and missionary institutions to Pakistan’s social and educational development.
Ambassador O’Neill described the 2024 opening of Ireland’s embassy as an expression of commitment to stronger ties and praised the PFG’s initiatives in the National Assembly. She underscored the importance of education, particularly girls’ education, and highlighted the constructive role of the Pakistani diaspora in Ireland across education, healthcare and IT. The ambassador also referenced Mr. Ammar Ali, the first Pakistani-origin councillor in Dublin, whose upcoming role as Deputy Mayor exemplifies the community’s growing leadership.
Both sides committed to follow-up actions to advance parliamentary cooperation, expand people-to-people linkages and explore joint projects in sports, education, health and technology. Attending from Pakistan were members of the Pakistan–Ireland PFG including Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, Barrister Danyal Chaudhary, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Ms. Seher Kamran, Ms. Huma Akhtar Chughtai, Mr. Naveed Aamir and Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, all endorsing concrete steps to strengthen Pakistan Ireland ties.
