Islamabad, Apr 11, 2025: A pivotal meeting took place at the Parliament House in Islamabad between the Pakistan–Finland Parliamentary Friendship Group and Finnish Ambassador to Pakistan, Hannu Ripatti.
The gathering aimed to deepen diplomatic ties, bolster economic collaboration, and identify new areas for joint ventures across various sectors.
The session was presided over by Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, Convener of the Friendship Group, and attended by several prominent members of the National Assembly, including Federal Minister Khalid Hussain Magsi, Shaista Pervaiz, Aasia Ishaque Siddiqui, Dr. Nafisa Shah, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Khurshid Ahmed Junejo, and Noor Alam Khan.
During her opening remarks, Faruqui praised the longstanding friendly relationship between Pakistan and Finland.
She presented a formal letter proposing the establishment of Finnish consular services in Islamabad, aiming to support students, entrepreneurs, professionals, and tourists.
She also emphasized the need to promote academic cooperation, enhance trade relations, build parliamentary linkages, and encourage greater cultural interaction between the two nations.
Ambassador Ripatti welcomed the initiative and appreciated the mutual goodwill shared between Pakistan and Finland.
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He shared recent developments in bilateral cooperation and highlighted Finland’s role in technical training, especially in the hospitality and hotel management sectors.
He also pointed out the operations of a Finnish Green Tech company currently active in Lahore.
Ripatti informed the group about the existence of a Finland–Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Finnish Parliament and expressed interest in arranging a virtual meeting between the two parliamentary bodies soon.
Additionally, he invited participation in the upcoming Finland–Pakistan Business Summit, set to take place in Pakistan from May 5–7, 2025.
Sharmila Faruqui responded by proposing a dialogue with the Pakistan Business Council and extended an invitation to the Finnish Ambassador for further engagement.
Members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation and emphasized involving key stakeholders in future discussions to ensure practical, actionable results.
This progressive diplomatic engagement marks a promising step towards stronger relations between Pakistan and Finland, paving the way for enriched partnerships in education, technology, trade, and beyond.
