By Staff Reporter
Islamabad – At a business forum organized by the European Union in Islamabad, the absence of a key federal minister caused concern among event organizers.
According to sources, the minister was scheduled to attend and deliver a speech at an important session but was unable to participate due to health issues. As a result, organizers made last-minute arrangements and invited another federal minister to address the session.
The forum was attended by two members of the European Parliament along with representatives from several international companies. However, sources indicated that certain government institutions, particularly the Foreign Office, did not give the event the level of importance it was expected to receive.
Initially, the Prime Minister was scheduled to attend the opening ceremony, and reports regarding his participation had also surfaced. However, he later engaged in meetings with representatives of international companies at the Prime Minister’s Office instead. The Deputy Prime Minister also attended one of the sessions.
The European Union has granted Pakistan GSP+ status, and Pakistan’s exports to the EU stand at approximately $8 billion. In this context, the forum was considered significant for enhancing cooperation and attracting European companies to invest and collaborate in Pakistan. However, concerns were raised that a lack of consistent high-level engagement in such events could undermine their potential impact.
