Pakistan, Bulgaria vow to strengthen cooperation

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jul, 2026) Pakistan and Bulgaria on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations by enhancing parliamentary diplomacy, expanding trade and investment, and promoting cooperation in various areas.

The commitment was expressed during a meeting between Ms Zeb Jaffar, MNA and Convener of the Pakistan–Bulgaria Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG), and a Bulgarian delegation led by Petko Doykov, Director General for Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, at Parliament House.

The delegation included Bulgaria's Ambassador to Pakistan, Mrs. Irena Gancheva, along with senior officials from the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

Before the meeting, Director General (Europe-I) at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ishtiaq Ahmed Akil, briefed the convener on the current state of Pakistan–Bulgaria relations and outlined opportunities to strengthen parliamentary engagement, economic cooperation, educational exchanges, and people-to-people contacts.

Welcoming the delegation, Ms. Zeb Jaffar said Pakistan and Bulgaria had enjoyed more than six decades of cordial relations based on mutual respect and cooperation.

She congratulated Bulgaria on the successful parliamentary elections and the formation of its new Parliament, expressing hope that the Bulgaria–Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group would soon be established to further institutionalize parliamentary cooperation.

She emphasized the importance of regular exchanges of parliamentarians to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and called for enhanced collaboration in education, climate change, agriculture, youth and student exchange programmes, and cultural ties.

Highlighting Bulgaria's strategic location as a gateway to European markets, she stressed the need to expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen cooperation through the Pakistan–EU business Forum, and encourage more high-level exchanges between the two countries.

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Speaking on the occasion, Mr Petko Doykov reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with Pakistan through sustained political dialogue and closer parliamentary engagement.

He underscored the importance of regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations and stronger people-to-people contacts, while identifying trade, information technology, artificial intelligence, youth engagement, and connectivity as key areas for future cooperation.

He said geographical distance should not be an obstacle to stronger economic relations and assured Bulgaria's support for the early establishment of the counterpart Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Ms Zeb Jaffar also appreciated Ambassador Irena Gancheva's contributions to promoting Pakistan–Bulgaria relations during her tenure in Islamabad.

Ambassador Gancheva expressed confidence that the establishment of the counterpart Parliamentary Friendship Group in Bulgaria would further institutionalize parliamentary engagement and deepen bilateral cooperation.

She thanked the convener and members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for their continued support and voiced optimism that the friendship between Pakistan and Bulgaria would continue to grow.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their resolve to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, expand economic and trade cooperation, promote educational and cultural exchanges, and enhance collaboration in areas of mutual interest.