ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met a high-level delegation of parliamentarians and investment leaders from the United Kingdom, Norway, and Austria.
During the meeting, held under the platform of Dialogue Pakistan, both sides discussed various avenues of bilateral cooperation, including infrastructure development, energy, and agriculture, technology, and information technology.
Both sides exchanged views on education, health, women’s economic participation, and broader social inclusion. Regional peace, economic corridors, transit trade, and Pakistan’s geo-strategic role were also discussed.
Bilawal - said Pakistan remains “a reliable friend to the world” and is eager to work closely with its international partners. He emphasised Pakistan’s desire to engage global investors, highlighting the country’s young population, creative talent, emerging startup ecosystem, and growing capabilities in the tech sector.
The discussion also covered cooperation in digital security, modern media, online safety, hybrid warfare, and countering disinformation.
The delegation briefed Bilawal on possible ways to strengthen Pakistan’s media and digital ecosystem.
Bilawal agreed with the delegation’s proposals for expanding Pakistan’s connectivity with Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Gulf markets. The meeting also touched upon long-term foreign direct investment, joint venture opportunities, and public-private partnerships.
Members of the delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s positive military, diplomatic, and economic contributions that have helped strengthen regional stability and global cooperation.
Several notable figures participated in the meeting, including former Pakistani Ambassador to the US and Zero Board Member Ali Jehangir Siddiqui; Bank Islami Deputy CEO Imran H Shaikh; JS Bank Product Head Nina Sheikh, a member of the UK House of Lords and Chair of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency Simon Stevens.
Also present were Norwegian MP and Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs & Defence Committee Himanshu Gulati; Austrian MP and Draw Solutions founder Walt Dengels; Jigsaw (Google) CEO Yasmin Green; Microsoft Turing Group Program Manager Eli Alvey; Portage Ventures General Partner Stephanie Choo; Redl Inc. Founder & CEO Igor Zhadanov; and Atomic VC Studio Advisor Raza Munir.
Other participants included Michael Weigand, CEO of a stealth defense tech startup; Shadi Martini, CEO of the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees; Saltwater President Thomas McLeod; Education Super Highway Founder & CEO Evan Marwell; Jensen Group Founder & CEO Steven Wynn; American journalist and SMU Tower Center Senior Fellow Lee Cullum; Stanford Adjunct Lecturer and leadership coach Diana Chapman; Duke University professor and author Kate Bowler; financial journalist Edwin Dorsey; Austrian general practitioner Dr. Maria Klepsch-Rief-Proll; and Vice President of the Austria-Pakistan Society Maria Mittermair.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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