ISLAMABAD (IN): The Pakistan–Hungary Parliamentary Friendship Group has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation and promoting parliamentary diplomacy during a meeting with Hungarian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Zoltán Varga at Parliament House in Islamabad.The meeting, chaired by Convener Raja Osama Sarwar, MNA, brought together National Assembly members Munaza Hassan, Ammar Ahmad Khan Leghari and Naveed Aamir Jeeva to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, education, tourism and cultural exchange.Welcoming the Hungarian ambassador, Raja Osama Sarwar underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening bilateral ties.
He emphasised regular interaction between parliamentarians, reciprocal visits and stronger institutional linkages to advance cooperation between the two countries.Ambassador Dr. Zoltán Varga highlighted the positive trajectory of Pakistan–Hungary relations and recalled the visit of Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker to Budapest in 2025. He stressed the need to build on existing engagement through continued parliamentary exchanges and expressed hope for reciprocal interaction between the two legislatures.The ambassador also called for stronger people-to-people contacts, greater tourism, cultural exchanges and closer engagement between the business communities, noting that a better understanding of Pakistan’s culture, landscapes and hospitality could help bridge the gap between perceptions and reality.
Participants discussed opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment, particularly in agriculture, information technology, pharmaceuticals, textiles and defence. They highlighted the potential for business delegations, stronger business-to-business links and partnerships to help companies from both countries explore new markets.Educational cooperation also featured prominently, with participants acknowledging the role of Pakistani students studying in Hungary and the potential to strengthen academic collaboration and people-to-people relations.On parliamentary engagement, Raja Osama Sarwar proposed establishing a corresponding Parliamentary Friendship Group in Hungary and suggested an initial virtual meeting between the two groups to facilitate regular communication.Responding to the proposal, Ambassador Varga said Hungary had held elections in April 2026, resulting in significant changes in the government’s membership, and that the formation of the Hungarian Parliamentary Friendship Group was under way.
The meeting concluded with both sides emphasising the importance of sustained parliamentary dialogue, stronger economic and cultural ties, and greater interaction between the peoples of Pakistan and Hungary to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
