Islamabad, November 11, 2025: 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 to discuss ways to deepen parliamentary cooperation and strengthen Pakistan Qatar ties.
Chairman Senate Gilani described the delegation’s participation in the conference as a tangible sign of Qatar’s parliamentary support for peace, security and sustainable development. He conveyed best wishes for the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and acknowledged the strong bond between the two countries based on mutual trust, respect and Islamic brotherhood.
The meeting highlighted Qatar’s role in supporting Pakistan across energy, investment and employment, and praised the Pakistani community in Qatar for acting as a vital bridge of friendship and contributing to Qatar’s development. Chairman Senate underscored Qatar’s positive involvement in regional mediation and humanitarian initiatives, including its support for the people of Palestine and facilitation of the Doha peace talks in October 2025 that led to a ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Emphasising the potential of parliamentary diplomacy, Chairman Senate proposed institutionalising links through a Pakistan-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group to enable regular exchanges, study visits and staff training. He said such measures would make Pakistan Qatar ties more durable and enable parliaments to support trade, investment and policy frameworks that attract Qatari capital into energy, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and industry.
Chairman Senate also highlighted Pakistan’s demographic advantage, noting that around 60 percent of the population is youth who are skilled or semi-skilled and can contribute to Qatar’s development. He sought expanded employment opportunities for Pakistani workers and stressed that enhanced people-to-people contacts and parliamentary linkages would deepen bilateral cooperation.
Both sides welcomed closer collaboration in regional and international parliamentary forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, to amplify their shared commitment to peace, social justice and sustainable development. The leader of the Qatari delegation affirmed the deep, people-centred relationship between the two countries and supported efforts to strengthen institutional ties.
Present at the meeting were Ek Nath Dhakal, Secretary General ISC, Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani, Advisor to the Chairman Senate, and Ambassador to ISC Misbah Khar. Chairman Senate Gilani thanked Speaker Al-Ghanim for his participation in the conference and expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work closely with the Shura Council to advance parliamentary cooperation and the longstanding fraternal relationship between Pakistan and Qatar.
