It was a real pleasure and an honour to join a wonderful lunch hosted by Pakistan Regional Economic Forum, bringing together leaders committed to strengthening collaboration between Pakistan and Ireland.

A sincere thank you to Khalid Mansoor for organising such a warm and meaningful gathering and for hosting us at his beautiful farmhouse. It is not only a stunning place but one filled with passion, warmth and peace. The tour was truly appreciated and reflected the spirit of generosity and vision behind the gathering.

It was a privilege to meet Haroon Sharif, Chairman of PREF, whose experience and clear vision combined with a practical approach to action is truly inspiring. His leadership and insights into investment and economic development highlight the strong potential Pakistan offers at a global level.

I was also very pleased to finally meet Naghmana Hashmi after hearing so much about her excellent work during her time as Ambassador in Ireland. It was great to connect and exchange perspectives on strengthening international relationships and opportunities.

The discussions around building strong private partnerships and creating high level business connections were both insightful and encouraging. There is a clear alignment in vision between the Pakistan Ireland Business Council and PREF, and I am confident that together we can explore meaningful synergies that will enhance bilateral trade, investment and long term collaboration.

Thank you once again for the warm hospitality, the engaging conversations and the inspiring work being done. It was a pleasure to connect and I look forward to building on this momentum.