WO hundred and thirty-seven years after the storming of the Bastille, the ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity continue to guide France’s actions in a world marked by profound upheaval.
Respect for international law remains at the heart of French foreign policy, while global challenges, beginning with climate change, call for greater solidarity among states and peoples.Wars and conflicts continue to spread from Ukraine to the Middle East, the Gulf, and Africa. Faced with these tragedies, which have claimed countless lives, destabilised regions, and affected the global economy, France, together with its European partners, reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy, in accordance with the United Nations Charter. We wish to continue working with Pakistan in the UN Security Council and commend its sustained diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue in the Gulf which brought Iranians and Americans closer together and led to the Islamabad MoU last month.
France stands ready to work closely with Pakistan towards a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Guided by a shared ambition for a more peaceful, cooperative, and sustainable world, France works with Pakistan across international forums while strengthening an increasingly dynamic bilateral partnership.
Global warming poses another major challenge, one that affects Pakistan particularly severely. France remains fully committed to the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement and continues to promote international cooperation on climate and environmental issues, notably through initiatives on water and oceans.
Building on our 2023 bilateral cooperation roadmap, France and Pakistan are expanding collaboration across a wide range of sectors, including the economy, science, technology, education, development, culture, tourism, and climate action. France is an important economic partner for Pakistan. Around twenty French companies, including Schneider Electric, Thales, Carrefour, and Alstom, operate successfully in Pakistan, employing hundreds of people in sectors ranging from energy and infrastructure to retail, technology, and pharmaceuticals. They also promote responsible business practices, including women’s employment and professional development.
Trade is further supported by the European Union’s GSP+ scheme, which provides Pakistan with preferential access to European markets while encouraging progress on international commitments related to human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and good governance.
The year 2027 will be crucial in this regard, as Pakistan will reapply for GSP+ status as part ofan evaluation process that is already underway.
France also contributes to Pakistan’s development through the French Development Agency (AFD), supporting projects in infrastructure, health, social protection, nutrition, and access to water and energy. Between 2022 and 2026, AFD committed more than 425 million across 12 projects. Through 50 million euro in funding, AFD is continuing its partnership with the Global Polio EradicationInitiative to achieve the eradication of polio in Pakistan.
France has also provided 20 million in emergency assistance since 2022 to help communities affected by increasingly frequentnaturaldisasters.
Education has become one of the most dynamic areas of our cooperation. The number of Pakistani students enrolled in French higher education institutions has risen dramatically, from around 200 in 2022 to nearly 7,000 in 2026.
The Higher Education Commission’s decision to authorise dual-degree programmes with foreign universities opens promising new opportunities for academic partnerships between French and Pakistaniinstitutions.
Culture remains another cornerstone of our relationship. The Embassy and the Alliances Françaises in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi organise French language courses and a wide range of cultural events throughout the year, including exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and the Francophone Film Mela.
France also welcomes Pakistani artists through residency programmes. In the field of archaeology, the French Archaeological Mission in the Indus Basin has been contributing, in cooperation with Unesco, to showcasing Pakistan’s rich heritage for nearly 80 years.
Our partnership also supports civil society and addresses global challenges. The Embassy’s annual ‘Gender and Climate’ Award recognises Pakistani women making outstanding contributions to environmental protection, while France also sup-ports NGOs promoting good governance and dialogue within the Pakistan’s vibrant civil society.
The relationship between France and Pakistan is broad, dynamic, and constantly evolving. The resumption of direct PIA flights between Islamabad and Paris reflects this positive momentum and brings our two countries even closer.
Let us continue to strengthen this friendship and build together a future founded on cooperation, friendship and shared ambition.
Long live Franco-Pakistani friendship!