The Advisor to the Chairman Senate, Ms. Misbah Khar, met with the Belgian Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Charles-Idesbald van der Gracht de Rommerswael, in Islamabad to discuss ways to boost parliamentary cooperation and expand engagement at international forums. The meeting highlighted Pakistan’s leading role in parliamentary diplomacy and outlined plans for an upcoming major conference in Islamabad.
During the meeting, Ms. Khar introduced the Ambassador to the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), a recently established global platform aimed at strengthening collaboration among parliaments around the world. According to Ms. Khar, the ISC currently brings together 45 parliamentary speakers from various countries and regions, creating opportunities for increased cooperation and dialogue.
Ms. Khar also shared that the Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, had recently been unanimously elected as the first President of the ISC during elections in Malaysia. She noted that this milestone reflected Pakistan’s active and growing leadership in global parliamentary diplomacy.
Preparations for the next ISC meeting were another key topic of discussion. Ms. Khar provided a detailed overview of the planned conference, set to take place in Islamabad. The event will feature high-level delegations from around the world, with an agenda focusing on peace, multilateral cooperation, and sustainable development. The discussions are expected to result in actionable strategies for addressing pressing international challenges.
Ms. Khar extended an official invitation for Belgium’s parliamentary delegation to attend the Islamabad conference, underscoring the significance of their participation. She emphasized the importance of the ISC in offering a platform for parliamentary leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaborate on global priorities.
Both Ms. Khar and the Belgian Ambassador reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening parliamentary relations and fostering greater people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and Belgium.
The Senior Director General (Protocol), Mr. Tariq bin Waheed, was also present during the meeting.
