Islamabad, October 27,2026: The Pakistan–Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG), led by Convener Farah Naz Akbar, held a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Pakistan Stéphane Rey to explore avenues for strengthening parliamentary ties and expanding bilateral cooperation.
The meeting was attended by Members of the National Assembly, including Rana Mubashar Iqbal, Federal Minister (Public Affairs Unit), Ahmad Raza Maneka, Mian Khan Bugti, Pullain Baloch, Kiran Haider, Neelam, Huma Akhtar Chughtai and Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi.
Farah Naz Akbar welcomed the ambassador and stressed the need to make the Parliamentary Friendship Group an effective, outcome-oriented platform. She highlighted the importance of sustained engagement among parliamentarians, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation on shared challenges.
She proposed establishing a counterpart friendship group in the Swiss Parliament, followed by virtual meetings, reciprocal visits and thematic discussions to facilitate the exchange of legislative experiences and best practices.
Ambassador Stéphane Rey appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality and highlighted opportunities to deepen cooperation in climate change, tourism, science, cultural heritage and vocational training. Referring to the challenges faced by mountain communities, he discussed the impact of climate change on villages and tourism and emphasised sharing research, knowledge and best practices.
He also underlined the importance of enhancing Pakistan’s visibility in Switzerland and promoting greater mutual understanding between the two countries.
The participants discussed vocational education and skills development as potential areas for practical collaboration, including exchanges between training institutions and learning from Switzerland’s vocational training system. Other topics included economic cooperation, Swiss companies operating in Pakistan, agricultural livelihoods, climate resilience, infrastructure and disaster risk reduction.
Members also explored ways to showcase Pakistan’s cultural heritage in Switzerland, including the possibility of organising a Gandhara-focused exhibition, while acknowledging the logistical requirements involved.
The discussion further covered scholarships, student exchanges and opportunities to expand educational and professional links. Participants emphasised strengthening people-to-people contacts, increasing trade and investment, and creating more opportunities for Pakistani students and professionals, particularly women, to develop their skills and participate in economic activity.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining regular engagement between the two parliamentary friendship groups and identifying specific areas for future collaboration. Both sides emphasised translating parliamentary dialogue into practical initiatives in trade, education, vocational training, cultural exchange, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Switzerland.
