Lahore/Thailand: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has emphasized that the promotion of cultural diplomacy, education, and tourism can serve as powerful bridges to bring nations and people closer. Speaking at a dinner hosted in her honor by former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra, she highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Thailand, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as trade, technology, agriculture, and tourism development.
A Warm Welcome in Thailand
During her visit, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was warmly welcomed by Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains a highly influential figure in Thai politics. The dinner reception underscored the importance of Pakistan-Thailand ties and provided a platform for discussions on cooperation at both governmental and people-to-people levels.
Thaksin appreciated the efforts of Maryam Nawaz in modernizing Punjab’s development agenda, especially in areas of youth empowerment, education, and digital transformation. The gathering was attended by Thai officials, business leaders, and cultural representatives, reflecting the shared interest in strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.
Cultural Diplomacy as a Bridge Between Nations
Maryam Nawaz stressed that cultural diplomacy—the exchange of art, traditions, heritage, and values—plays a pivotal role in improving understanding between countries. Pakistan and Thailand, despite their geographical distance, share rich cultural heritages rooted in history, religion, and trade exchanges.
- Pakistan’s Gandhara civilization, with its Buddhist heritage, connects deeply with Thailand, where Buddhism is the dominant religion. Thousands of Thai tourists visit Pakistan each year to explore Taxila, Takht-i-Bahi, and Swat Valley’s Buddhist relics.
- On the other hand, Thailand’s vibrant tourism industry and cultural hospitality can serve as a model for Pakistan to expand its cultural tourism and hospitality infrastructure.
Maryam emphasized that promoting cultural exchanges, student exchange programs, art exhibitions, and tourism collaborations would allow the people of both countries to better understand each other’s traditions and values.
Strengthening Educational Cooperation
The Punjab Chief Minister underscored the need to strengthen educational collaboration between Pakistan and Thailand. She proposed partnerships between universities, research institutions, and vocational training centers to prepare young people for the demands of the global economy.
- Punjab is actively working on digital literacy initiatives, ensuring that young men and women are trained in modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, software development, and e-commerce.
- Thailand’s vocational training programs and institutional development serve as a successful model, particularly in producing skilled workers for industries such as tourism, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted that adopting Thailand’s model of institutional capacity building could help Punjab develop a robust system of education that bridges the gap between academic learning and job markets.
Tourism as an Engine of Economic Growth
Tourism was one of the central themes of Maryam Nawaz’s speech. She noted that both Pakistan and Thailand have immense potential in the tourism sector but must adopt strategic measures to fully harness this potential.
- Pakistan is home to breathtaking landscapes such as the Himalayas, Karakoram Range, Hunza Valley, and Gilgit-Baltistan, in addition to its religious and cultural tourism sites.
- Thailand has already established itself as a global tourism hub, attracting millions of international visitors annually due to its beaches, temples, food culture, and hospitality industry.
Maryam Nawaz stated that Punjab, being at the crossroads of South Asia, offers easy access to regional markets and can be developed into a hub for tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges. She reiterated her government’s commitment to improving infrastructure, hospitality standards, and tourism promotion campaigns to boost foreign investment and international arrivals.
Economic Cooperation Between Pakistan and Thailand
The Chief Minister also pointed out that Pakistan and Thailand share common interests in textiles, agriculture, and technology.
- Textiles – Pakistan’s textile industry is one of the largest contributors to its GDP, and collaboration with Thailand’s modern machinery and innovation can bring significant advancements.
- Agriculture – Both countries rely heavily on agriculture, and by exchanging best practices in crop management, irrigation, and biotechnology, they can increase productivity.
- Technology – Thailand’s progress in digital governance and smart city development provides a model for Punjab, which is already working on its Digital Punjab Initiative.
Maryam Nawaz said that foreign direct investment (FDI) in these sectors could create thousands of jobs for youth and open doors for joint ventures, which would benefit both economies.
Vision for a Digital and Skilled Punjab
In her address, Maryam Nawaz reiterated her government’s vision of building a digital and skilled Punjab. She highlighted initiatives that focus on:
- E-governance and digitalization of public services to ensure transparency and efficiency.
- Skill development programs in IT, engineering, and vocational trades.
- Youth empowerment projects designed to prepare the next generation of Pakistanis to compete in global markets.
She also stressed that Punjab’s strategic geographic position provides easy access to South Asian, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern markets, making it an attractive destination for international investors.
Pakistan-Thailand Historical Ties
Pakistan and Thailand established diplomatic relations in 1951, and over the decades, ties have expanded in multiple areas:
- Trade Relations: Bilateral trade volume has grown steadily, with potential to increase further under a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
- Tourism and Cultural Links: Thai tourists regularly visit Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage sites, while Pakistanis travel to Thailand for leisure, education, and healthcare.
- Defense and Security Cooperation: Both countries have cooperated in regional security dialogues and maritime safety.
Maryam Nawaz’s visit marks another milestone in this longstanding relationship, signaling Pakistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Southeast Asia.
Importance of People-to-People Contacts
The Chief Minister stressed that while government-level cooperation is important, real friendship between nations comes through people-to-people contact. This includes:
- Cultural festivals and food expos to highlight each other’s traditions.
- Student exchange programs to foster cross-cultural understanding among youth.
- Joint tourism campaigns to promote religious and leisure tourism between the two countries.
She expressed confidence that such initiatives would build trust, respect, and long-term friendships.
Conclusion
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s address in Thailand underscored a forward-looking vision for Pakistan’s engagement with the world. By emphasizing cultural diplomacy, education, tourism, and economic cooperation, she highlighted areas where Pakistan can not only strengthen its global image but also generate opportunities for its people.
Her remarks reflect a clear recognition that in today’s interconnected world, soft power tools such as culture, education, and tourism are as important as trade and diplomacy. If implemented effectively, the policies and partnerships discussed during her visit could serve as a turning point for Punjab and Pakistan’s relations with Southeast Asia, particularly with Thailand.
