Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani met with H.E. Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar, on the sidelines of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Islamabad. The meeting focused on enhancing parliamentary cooperation and deepening the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Qatar.
Chairman Senate welcomed Speaker Al-Ghanim to Pakistan and described Qatar's participation in the conference as a strong testament to its support for peace, security, and sustainable development. He extended his best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the people of Qatar.
During the meeting, Chairman Senate highlighted the historic bonds of trust, respect, and Islamic brotherhood between the two nations. He appreciated Qatar's support in energy, investment, and employment opportunities for Pakistani workers, while commending the Pakistani community in Qatar for strengthening bilateral friendship and contributing to Qatar's development. He also lauded Qatar's role in promoting regional peace, mediation, and humanitarian efforts.
Emphasizing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, Chairman Senate proposed institutionalizing parliamentary linkages through the Pakistan-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group, enabling regular exchanges and collaboration between parliamentarians and committees. He highlighted opportunities for cooperation in staff training, study visits, and knowledge sharing, noting that both parliaments could amplify their voice for global peace and sustainable development through forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), and the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC).
Chairman Senate praised Qatar's humanitarian initiatives, particularly its support for Palestine and its facilitative role in the Doha peace talks in October 2025, which led to a ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to support Qatar's dialogue and peace efforts.
On economic cooperation, Chairman Senate highlighted the importance of Qatari investment and expressed Pakistan's desire to expand collaboration in energy, infrastructure, agriculture, IT, and industry, while emphasizing employment opportunities for Pakistani youth in Qatar. He underscored that people-to-people contacts and enhanced parliamentary linkages are vital to strengthening bilateral relations.
Concluding the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening parliamentary cooperation, deepening fraternal ties, and working together toward peace, security, and sustainable development. Members of the Pakistani delegation included Ek Nath Dhakal, Secretary General ISC; Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani, Advisor to Chairman Senate; and Ambassador Misbah Khar.