Ms. Misbah Khar, Advisor to the Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, held talks with senior officials at the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad to boost parliamentary cooperation and launch new bilateral initiatives. The discussions focused on the recently established Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC) and efforts to deepen cultural and legislative ties between Pakistan and Iran.
During the meeting, Ms. Khar provided an overview of the ISC, a multilateral forum formed to promote dialogue and cooperation among national legislatures. She shared that the conference has already united 45 presiding officers from parliaments worldwide, with Pakistan’s Senate Chairman, Yousuf Raza Gillani, being unanimously elected as its first President in recent elections held in Malaysia.
Ms. Khar formally invited the Speaker of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly to attend the inaugural full session of the ISC, set to be held in Islamabad. She highlighted the conference’s central theme of “Peace, Stability and Security,” emphasizing the role of parliamentary leaders in tackling global challenges through open dialogue. Ms. Khar also outlined the preparatory process, which includes thematic discussions and high-level exchanges among delegates from diverse regions.
Beyond parliamentary cooperation, Ms. Khar conveyed Chairman Gillani’s vision for establishing sister city status between Gilan in Iran and Multan in Pakistan. This proposal aims to strengthen cultural, historical, and economic ties at the municipal level, fostering greater understanding and collaboration between the two communities.
Iranian officials expressed their support for both the ISC initiative and the sister-city project, signaling their readiness to explore further avenues for enhanced parliamentary and people-to-people engagement. Both sides agreed that Iran’s active participation in the ISC would reinforce the relationship between their legislative institutions and promote closer bilateral relations.
The meeting was also attended by Senate Senior Director General Protocol Tariq Bin Waheed.
