Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif attended a dinner reception in Bangkok hosted by Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is also a prominent figure in the telecommunications industry. The event was marked by warm hospitality as Thaksin and his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s youngest former female prime minister, welcomed the chief minister and expressed admiration for her leadership vision and commitment to development.
During the dinner, Thaksin Shinawatra praised Maryam Nawaz and her father, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for their enduring struggle for the people, calling it both inspiring and commendable. He conveyed his goodwill and extended best wishes to the PML-N supremo, while also appreciating Punjab’s reform-focused governance model. Both father and daughter highlighted the importance of strong political leadership in driving progress and shared common perspectives with the Punjab chief minister.
In response, Maryam Nawaz lauded the Shinawatra family’s contributions to Thailand’s progress, emphasizing that their reforms and welfare initiatives had created a lasting impact on the country’s social and economic development. She highlighted that mutual respect and cooperation form the foundation of Pakistan-Thailand relations, which continue to grow stronger through such diplomatic engagements. Her remarks underlined the significance of leadership in shaping sustainable policies and bringing positive change to society.
Moreover, the Punjab chief minister emphasized Punjab’s development vision that rests on innovation, public service, and equipping youth with modern digital skills. She pointed out that Punjab is actively fostering opportunities in textiles, agriculture, tourism, and technology, while also offering attractive incentives to foreign investors. Maryam encouraged Thailand’s business community to explore Punjab’s regional market access and benefit from the province’s investment-friendly environment.
She also stressed that cultural diplomacy, tourism, and education can further strengthen ties and bring people from both nations closer together. Drawing inspiration from Thailand’s institutional capacity-building reforms, Maryam noted that Punjab could replicate such models to enhance efficiency and governance. Before concluding, she expressed gratitude to Thaksin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra for hosting the dinner and extended an invitation for them to visit Punjab in the near future.