Islamabad, March 5, 2026: The Pakistan–Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) convened its first briefing session at Parliament House Islamabad, under the leadership of Ms. Shamaila Rana, MNA. The meeting brought together PFG members, including Mr. Daniyal Ahmed, Mr. Ahmad Atteeq Anwer, Ms. Samar Haroon Bilour, Ms. Tamkeen Akhtar Niazi, Ms. Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi, Ms. Shazia Farid, Ms. Natasha Daultana, Ms. Neelam Kumari, and Ms. Saeeda Jamshid. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan and Ministry of Commerce Pakistan also attended, while Pakistan’s Ambassador to Cambodia participated virtually.
In her opening remarks, Convener Shamaila Rana welcomed participants and highlighted the significance of strengthening parliamentary engagement between Pakistan and Cambodia. She underscored that Parliamentary Friendship Groups serve as a vital platform for dialogue between legislatures and can facilitate deeper connections between the peoples of both countries. She expressed optimism that the Pakistan–Cambodia PFG would enhance parliamentary interaction and explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented a detailed briefing, noting that although high-level interactions between Pakistan and Cambodia have historically been limited, Cambodia has increasingly expressed interest in enhancing cooperation. The briefing highlighted Pakistan’s offer to facilitate the opening of a Cambodian diplomatic mission in Pakistan, emphasizing that a stronger institutional presence could deepen bilateral engagement. Officials also recalled that Pakistan was among the early countries to recognize Cambodia and has maintained friendly and cooperative ties over the years.
The session emphasized that bilateral engagement has been gradually expanding in areas such as trade, economic cooperation, and parliamentary dialogue. Members were briefed on ongoing mechanisms, including the Second Joint Trade Commission meeting and ministerial-level interactions, which have helped identify new areas for cooperation. Potential sectors for economic collaboration were highlighted, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, and travel-related products.
During the discussion, PFG members stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people contacts. They recommended promoting cooperation in key areas such as trade, tourism, education, information technology, and cultural exchange to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Cambodia.
