Islamabad: The Senate of Pakistan on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution declaring 25th May as Pakistan-Africa Friendship Day.
The resolution was moved by Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the occasion of Pakistan-Africa Friendship Day marked in the Senate on Thursday.
The resolution expressed the resolve that the government of Pakistan shall continue to enhance and expand its relations with African countries across all spheres including political, economic, technological, cultural and educational domains for mutual benefit.
It said that Pakistan shall further enhance its contributions towards peace and stability of the African continent including by enhancing its role and cooperation with African Union in area of UN peacekeeping as well as supporting African solutions to African challenges.
The House acknowledged that Africa is continent of emerging opportunities and a vital partner in global peace, prosperity and progress.
Earlier taking the floor, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed Pakistan's strong desire to enhance relations with African countries in different fields including trade and investment. He said Pakistan offers to export high quality textiles and garments, pharmaceutical and surgical instruments as well as sports goods to the African countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan's growing expertise in IT services and digital training programs also align well with African digital transformation agenda. He mentioned that under Engage Africa policy, Pakistan has enhanced its diplomatic presence in African nations.
In his remarks, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani said today's sitting of the upper house is indeed a historic moment as it brings together the elected representatives of Pakistan and the African friends under one roof.
He said this symbolizes our collective resolve to shape a future rooted in solidarity, people to people connectivity and robust parliamentary engagements. The Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging the international community to take notice of India's continued sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan and its repeated violations of international law and humanitarian norms.
The resolution, moved by Shahzaib Durrani, unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar as barbaric, shameful and unforgivable crime against innocent children, describing it as an act that represents the lowest depth of cowardice and moral depravity.
The House extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured, assuring the victims that the entire nation stands in solidarity with them.
The resolution demanded a swift, transparent and decisive investigation into the incident and called for immediate identification, arrest and punishment for all those involved including the perpetrators, collaborators, financers and foreign sponsor of the terror attack.
The resolution noted that this brutal act reportedly planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and executed through its proxies operating in Balochistan, is part of a broader agenda to destabilize Pakistan through state sponsored terrorism. India has resorted to unleashing its proxies to conduct the most heinous and inhumane acts of terrorism to spread fear and sabotage peace in the region after having miserably failed at the battlefield.
The House reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering resolve to root out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, declaring that such cowardly attacks, as the one on our children, the future of Pakistan, will only strengthen our unity, resilience and determination to defend our homeland at all costs.