Philippines Ambassador Dr. Emmanuel Fernandez Visits LCCI, Emphasizes Education and Trade Cooperation

By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan

Philippine Ambassador Dr. Emmanuel Fernandez has said that Pakistan and the Philippines enjoy more than seven decades of diplomatic relations, noting that Manila was among the first nations to recognize Pakistan soon after independence. Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), he highlighted longstanding cooperation in economic, educational and cultural sectors, adding that the current trade balance favors Pakistan.

Dr. Fernandez said Pakistan holds strong export potential for the Philippine market, particularly in rice and surgical instruments, while Pakistan can benefit from importing electrical appliances and vehicle parts from the Philippines.

LCCI President Faheem ur Rehman Saigol, in his keynote address, stressed the growing importance of “educational diplomacy,” saying that nations investing in education, research, human resource development and academic collaboration are the ones that advance in the modern world.

The session was attended by LCCI Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President Khurram Lodhi, Special Representative to the Prime Minister Rizwan Ahmed, and Executive Committee members. Philippine Honorary Consul Generals Fahad Sheikh (Lahore) and Imran Yousaf (Karachi) were also present.

Vice Chancellors and senior representatives from major institutions—including Kinnaird College for Women, UMT, Information Technology University, Lahore College for Women University, University of Lahore, Hailey College of Commerce, Bahria University, and Fatima Jinnah Medical University—joined the discussion.

Ambassador Fernandez said the Philippine education system, based on the American model, offers internationally recognized English-medium programs at affordable costs. Quoting Nelson Mandela, he underscored education as “the most powerful weapon” for shaping progress.

A detailed presentation on the Philippine education system was delivered by Honorary Consul General Fahad Sheikh.

LCCI President Saigol emphasized that Pakistan’s vibrant higher education landscape—spanning medicine, engineering, IT, commerce, social sciences and research—creates strong avenues for collaboration. He proposed joint degrees, exchange programs, faculty partnerships and collaborative research with Philippine universities.

He added that the Philippines holds a distinguished global standing in fields such as nursing, maritime sciences, hospitality, agriculture and information technology. Combining strengths, he said, could open new opportunities for students, academia, industry and research sectors in both countries.

Saigol expressed hope that the meeting would serve as a meaningful starting point for future exchange programs and joint research initiatives.