Pakistan–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group Reaffirms Commitment to Deepening Bilateral Cooperation
Islamabad :- A meeting of the Pakistan–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group chaired by Senator Husna Bano was held at Parliament House. Senator Husna Bano, along with Senator Fawzia Arshad, Ms. Misbah Khar, Advisor to the Chairman Senate, and senior officials from the Senate Secretariat, warmly welcomed H.E. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines to Pakistan, accompanied by Mr. Jaun Paolo Alex, First Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy.
Senator Husna Bano emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral ties across multiple sectors, particularly trade and the IT industry. She reaffirmed Pakistan’s interest in deepening economic cooperation and enhancing expertise-sharing in the technology sector. Supporting these views, Ms. Misbah Khar underscored the need for institutional collaboration in bilateral and constitutional policy frameworks. She also highlighted trade, tourism, and cultural exchange as key areas for building long-term partnership.
Ambassador Fernandez reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to advancing bilateral relations with Pakistan. He highlighted efforts to balance trade by encouraging greater imports from Pakistan and shared that several Philippine business groups had expressed keen interest in exploring economic opportunities in Pakistan. He acknowledged the historical significance of the Joint Economic Association and expressed confidence in its revival following the pandemic.
The Ambassador also discussed visa facilitation, noting that while recommendations had been made to ease access, final decisions rest with immigration authorities. He referenced the growing interest of Pakistani students in pursuing educational opportunities in the Philippines and called for expanded support in this area.
Senator Fawzia Arshad highlighted Pakistan’s focus on emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence. She expressed keen interest in vocational training and entrepreneurship, calling it a pressing need for the country. She also proposed exploring maritime cooperation, given Pakistan’s strategic port infrastructure.
Building on this, Ambassador Fernandez identified promising areas for future collaboration, including AI, education, labor mobility, culture, tourism, and maritime training. He supported the idea of formalizing cooperation through an MoU in the education sector, particularly in tertiary and vocational training, and expressed hope for concrete progress through continued engagement between both sides.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
