A Pakistani parliamentary delegation led by Senator Afnan Ullah Khan travelled to Manama to take part in the 16th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, underlining Pakistan’s sustained focus on intercivilizational dialogue as a foundation for peace and development in Asia. The delegation included Senator Gurdeep Singh, Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro of the Senate and Ms. Taskeen Akhtar Niazi, MNA, representing the National Assembly.
In his address to the Assembly, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan congratulated H.E. Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam on assuming the APA presidency and welcomed Bahrain’s leadership as the APA marks its 20th anniversary. He also commended the outgoing APA Presidency and praised the APA Secretariat for organising the plenary effectively.
The senator drew attention to the pressing challenges confronting the region, from economic uncertainty and geopolitical friction to rising polarization and intolerance, and argued that parliaments must translate dialogue into concrete policy through legislation, oversight and inclusive representation. He stressed that intercivilizational dialogue is essential to counter extremism, disinformation and social divisions.
Referencing Pakistan’s constitutional and historical commitments, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan highlighted the country’s pluralistic outlook, constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and equality before the law, and institutional measures such as interfaith harmony initiatives and the Senate Minority Caucus that protect minority rights and promote tolerance.
On the international front, the head of delegation outlined Pakistan’s proactive engagement, including co-sponsoring United Nations resolutions that advance a culture of peace and safeguard religious sites. He cited the Kartarpur Corridor as a practical confidence building measure that converts dialogue into people-to-people reconciliation and underscored domestic efforts such as the 2018 National Culture Policy, the National History Museum, and heritage preservation projects that foster inclusive national identity.
Senator Afnan Ullah Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work constructively within the APA framework and called for elevating intercivilizational dialogue as a sustained parliamentary priority to harness Asia’s diversity as a source of unity, resilience and shared progress.
