Maryam Nawaz, Portuguese envoy agree to expand Pakistan-Portugal cooperation

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Portugal’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Paulo Domingues, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations by exploring new opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and several other sectors of mutual interest during a meeting held in Lahore on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the meeting focused on enhancing economic and cultural ties between Punjab and Portugal. Both sides reviewed various proposals aimed at expanding collaboration and agreed that stronger institutional partnerships could pave the way for long-term mutual benefits.

A key point of discussion was the proposed establishment of a Pakistan-Portugal Business Forum, which is expected to facilitate trade, attract investment, and encourage greater business-to-business engagement between the two countries. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz invited Portuguese businesses and investors to explore opportunities in Punjab, highlighting the province’s business-friendly environment and assuring the ambassador of the provincial government’s complete support for future investment initiatives.

The chief minister emphasized that Punjab offers considerable potential across multiple sectors, including pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, water resource management, healthcare, and digital innovation. She noted that closer cooperation in these fields could generate economic growth while benefiting both nations through the exchange of expertise, technology, and investment.

Tourism and cultural cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions. Maryam Nawaz expressed confidence that expanding people-to-people contacts and promoting cultural exchanges would further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Portugal. She reiterated that both countries share warm diplomatic relations and possess significant untapped potential to deepen collaboration across a wide range of sectors.

One of the notable proposals discussed during the meeting was declaring Lahore and Lisbon as twin cities. The initiative aims to encourage greater cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and municipal development while fostering stronger connections between the people of both cities. Such a partnership is expected to create new opportunities for cultural exchanges, academic collaboration, and tourism promotion.

Ambassador Paulo Domingues praised Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue during the Iran-US negotiations and acknowledged the country’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability. He also commended the Punjab government for establishing Pakistan’s first public-sector cancer hospital, describing it as a landmark achievement in the province’s healthcare sector. The ambassador further appreciated Punjab’s progress in public health services and recognized the provincial government’s commitment to improving healthcare facilities.

During the meeting, Ambassador Domingues also spoke highly of Lahore’s rich cultural heritage, renowned cuisine, and the warmth and hospitality of its residents. He extended an invitation to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to visit Portugal as part of efforts to further strengthen bilateral relations and explore additional avenues of cooperation.

Reaffirming Portugal’s commitment to stronger economic engagement with Pakistan, the ambassador assured that Portuguese authorities would provide a supportive and welcoming environment for Pakistani entrepreneurs and investors interested in expanding their businesses in Portugal. Both sides concluded the meeting by expressing optimism that enhanced institutional cooperation, stronger business partnerships, and increased cultural engagement would continue to deepen the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Portugal while creating new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and mutual prosperity.