https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
LAHORE, July 17 (Diplomatic Star): Pakistan and Portugal have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, tourism, trade, investment and other sectors of mutual interest during a high-level meeting between the Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan, H.E. Paulo Domingues, and Governor of Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan.
The meeting reviewed the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Portugal and explored practical avenues to enhance collaboration in economic, educational, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, reflecting the shared desire of both countries to build a stronger and mutually beneficial partnership.
Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan
Welcoming Ambassador Paulo Domingues, Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Portugal and is keen to deepen cooperation in areas that contribute to sustainable development and shared prosperity.
The governor described Punjab as Pakistan’s economic powerhouse, offering vast investment opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure and value-added industries.
He said the provincial government is committed to providing a business-friendly environment by encouraging investment, supporting innovation and facilitating public-private partnerships.
Governor Saleem Haider Khan said closer cooperation with Portugal would help increase bilateral trade, promote technology transfer and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors and professionals in both countries.
Highlighting the education sector, the governor said academic collaboration between Pakistani and Portuguese universities could significantly benefit students and researchers through scholarship programmes, faculty exchanges, joint research initiatives and vocational training.
He also underlined the enormous tourism potential of Pakistan, saying the country’s rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, mountain landscapes and religious tourism destinations provide attractive opportunities for international visitors.
The governor said Portugal’s experience in tourism development, heritage conservation and hospitality management could help Pakistan further develop its tourism sector while encouraging greater tourist exchanges between the two countries.
Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan,
H.E. Paulo Domingues
Ambassador Paulo Domingues appreciated the warm hospitality extended by the Governor and reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Pakistan.
He said Portugal considers Pakistan an important partner in South Asia and sees considerable scope for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
The ambassador highlighted Portugal’s strengths in renewable energy, maritime economy, innovation, higher education, vocational training and tourism, saying these sectors offer excellent opportunities for bilateral collaboration.
He encouraged stronger business-to-business engagement, trade delegations and joint investment initiatives that could enhance commercial relations and create new employment opportunities.
Ambassador Domingues also stressed the importance of educational partnerships, noting that Portuguese universities are interested in expanding cooperation with Pakistani institutions through research collaboration, student mobility programmes and academic exchanges.
He observed that increased interaction between educational institutions would help build stronger people-to-people relations while preparing young people to compete in an increasingly global economy.
During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on promoting cultural diplomacy through literature, arts, sports and tourism exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and Portugal.
The discussions further covered opportunities for cooperation in climate resilience, digital transformation, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development, with both sides expressing interest in sharing expertise and best international practices.
Governor Saleem Haider Khan appreciated Portugal’s constructive engagement with Pakistan and expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to grow through regular dialogue, stronger institutional partnerships and increased private-sector collaboration.
Ambassador Domingues thanked the Punjab government for its continued support and reiterated Portugal’s desire to translate the existing goodwill between the two countries into practical cooperation that delivers long-term economic and social benefits.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining close coordination and encouraging greater engagement among government institutions, business organizations, universities and tourism stakeholders to unlock the full potential of Pakistan-Portugal relations.
Senior Civil Servant and Director Punjab House, Ms. Zile Huma, was also present during the meeting.
She briefed the visiting ambassador on the current state of Pakistan-Portugal relations and highlighted the immense untapped potential for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, tourism and institutional partnerships.
She noted that Pakistan and Portugal enjoy cordial diplomatic relations spanning more than seven decades, supported by regular political dialogue and growing economic engagement.
She said bilateral trade has witnessed steady growth in recent years, while significant opportunities remain available in textiles, agriculture, information technology, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, food processing, logistics and tourism.
Ms. Zile Huma emphasized that strengthening institutional linkages and facilitating greater interaction between the business communities, universities and tourism sectors of both countries would further enhance bilateral cooperation.
She also highlighted the important role played by the Pakistani diaspora in Portugal in promoting economic and cultural ties between the two nations.
