The Pakistan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group met German Ambassador Ina Lepel at Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss stronger parliamentary engagement and bilateral cooperation. The group was led by its convener, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, and the meeting was attended by MNAs Mohammad Ilyas Choudhary, Mohammad Riaz Fatyana, Dr Shahida Rehmani and Natasha Daultana. Both sides reviewed the state of relations between the two countries and looked for practical ways to deepen contact between their parliaments and peoples.

Trade, Skills And 75 Years Of Relations

Welcoming the ambassador, the deputy speaker reaffirmed Pakistan's longstanding friendly relations with Germany and highlighted the significance of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. He expressed hope that a counterpart friendship group would be established in the German Bundestag, so that parliamentary exchanges could become more regular. The ambassador, in turn, appreciated Pakistan's commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and reaffirmed Germany's cooperation in development, climate change, renewable energy, vocational training and skills development.

What Was Discussed

The two sides discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment, addressing export-related challenges, and the role of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus in facilitating Pakistan's access to European markets. They also explored academic collaboration, scholarships, people-to-people exchanges, women's empowerment and entrepreneurship as areas where closer cooperation could bring direct benefits. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening parliamentary ties and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation across key sectors, rather than any announcement of a new agreement.

Sources: Sub News, NN Pakistan.