Islamabad, 19 May 2023 (TDI): On Thursday, Additional Foreign Secretary Europe (AFS) and Ambassador of Pakistan Muhammad Saleem met the Deputy Secretary General at the Department of Foreign Affairs Ireland, Sonja Hyland, in Islamabad.
The meeting was held on the occasion of the Fourth Session of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and the Republic of Ireland. The Ambassador of Ireland to Pakistan, Sonya McGuiness, a resident in Ankara, was also part of the Irish delegation.
Under the BPC, the two sides deliberated upon the bilateral relationships. The AFS Muhmmad Saleem emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening and expanding cooperation with Ireland in the areas of trade, academic exchanges, culture, sports, science and technology, harmonization of visa regime, and migration and mobility.
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Ambassador Saleem welcomed the decision of opening the embassy of Ireland in Islamabad. He mentioned that it would be a milestone in the Pakistan-Ireland relationship. The Irish embassy in Islamabad and Pakistan embassy in Dublin would be pivotal in boosting bilateral ties. Moreover, these would significantly increase people-to-people connections and facilitate Pakistani businesses and students.
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The agenda of the meeting also included cooperation at multilateral fora, including the United Nations (UN). Moreover, Regional and global issues of mutual interests also came to the limelight during the consultations.
Deputy Secretary General, Sonja Hyland, took to Twitter to write that she exchanged views on Ireland-Pakistan relations, including regional and global issues.
Former Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Ambassador of Pakistan to Ireland, Aisha Farooqui, also reflected on the importance of the BPC for the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. She also suggested discovering areas that were beneficial to the people of both nations.
The BPC plays a crucial role in getting the two countries closer in various fields. Both sides agreed to hold regular Bilateral Political Consultations. The next BPC will be held in Dublin in 2024.
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