ISLAMABAD: : Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan will continue its efforts to further strengthen trade and investment relations with the European Union, which remains the country’s largest trading partner.
He made these remarks during a meeting with a high-level EU delegation and representatives of leading European companies in Islamabad on Tuesday. The delegation was attending the EU-Pakistan Business Forum and was led by Peteris Ustubs, Director for Asia Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships.
The delegation also included EU Investment Bank representative Thourya Triki and senior executives from major global firms such as Adidas, Andritz, and IKEA. EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis was also present.
The Prime Minister welcomed the delegation and appreciated their participation in the business forum, expressing hope that such engagements would help deepen economic cooperation and open new avenues for investment between Pakistan and the EU.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to economic stability despite regional challenges, including rising global oil prices linked to Middle East tensions. Shehbaz Sharif also referenced his recent discussions with European Council President Antonio Costa, during which both sides exchanged views on regional security and bilateral cooperation.
EU representatives acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating the forum and praised the government’s role in promoting dialogue and investment opportunities. They highlighted Pakistan’s potential in sectors such as energy, information technology, and communications, noting strong prospects for expanding business-to-business partnerships.
The forum is expected to host more than 600 B2B meetings between Pakistani and European companies, aimed at strengthening commercial ties.
Senior Pakistani officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and other key advisers also attended the meeting.
