- Maryam Nawaz meets Mary O’Neill, terms establishment of Ireland’s embassy in Islamabad a ‘historic milestone’
- Offers opportunities in agriculture, dairy, IT, livestock, and renewable energy, stressing cooperation on climate resilience, green transition, and sustainable farming
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday welcomed Ireland’s first resident Ambassador to Pakistan, Mary O’Neill, calling her appointment and the establishment of Ireland’s embassy in Islamabad a “historic milestone” that would open new avenues of cooperation between Punjab and Ireland in trade, education, climate resilience, and people-to-people linkages.
During their meeting, the Chief Minister and the Ambassador held detailed discussions on strengthening bilateral ties, exploring commercial opportunities, and expanding cooperation in information technology, higher education, and environmental sustainability. Both sides agreed to enhance collaboration in trade, education, and climate action.
“وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف سے پاکستان میں تعینات آئرلینڈ کی پہلی ریزیڈنٹ سفیر میری او نیل کی ملاقات”
🔹وزیراعلیٰ مریم نواز شریف کا آئر لینڈ کی سفیر میری او نیل کا پر خلوص و پر تپاک خیر مقدم
🔹پاک آئرلینڈ تعلقات کے فروغ،تجارتی مواقع،موسمیاتی تعاون،تعلیم، آئی ٹی اور عوامی… pic.twitter.com/VA9UkyYXja
— PMLN (@pmln_org) September 26, 2025
CM Maryam Nawaz extended an invitation to Ireland to invest in Punjab, assuring the Irish envoy of the provincial government’s full support and facilitation for foreign investors. “Ireland is a symbol of principles and progress. The arrival of Ambassador Mary O’Neill marks the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan-Ireland relations,” she remarked.
Highlighting the significance of Ireland’s diplomatic presence, the Chief Minister said the opening of its first embassy in Islamabad would serve as a vital platform for new partnerships with Irish institutions, businesses, and the people of Punjab. She added that the mission would give “a fresh dimension” to political, economic, cultural, and educational cooperation between the two countries.
The Punjab CM underscored that both Pakistan and Ireland were strong advocates of peace, multilateral cooperation, and a rules-based international order. She emphasized that Punjab, as the most climate-vulnerable region of Pakistan, had experienced devastating floods in recent years. In this context, she identified areas of mutual collaboration such as climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and green transition initiatives.
The Chief Minister further noted that Pakistan-Ireland bilateral trade currently stood at $213 million but carried the potential to increase manifold. She pointed out that Punjab offered Ireland excellent opportunities in agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, IT, and renewable energy sectors.
CM Maryam reiterated her government’s vision of forging stronger international partnerships to create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen resilience against environmental and economic challenges. “Our cooperation with Ireland can help us achieve sustainable growth, while ensuring that the people of Punjab benefit directly from new technologies, expertise, and partnerships,” she added.
