Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani met the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation on the sidelines of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, underscoring the longstanding ties between Pakistan and the UK. The UK team was led by MP Kate Osamor, Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and included Lord Syed Salah Kamall, MP David Mundell and Baroness Lindsay Northover.
Representing Pakistan, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Mohsin Aziz and Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Awais Qadir Shah joined the meeting to discuss ways to deepen inter-parliamentary cooperation under the CPA framework and to strengthen bilateral legislative engagement.
The Senate Chairman reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as envisaged in UN resolutions and presented Pakistan’s perspective on the current situation in Palestine. He emphasized the role of sustained international engagement on critical regional issues and the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing those challenges.
Discussions also covered the need for continued international attention to Afghanistan’s stability and the urgency of collective action on climate change, with both delegations agreeing that parliamentary forums can help mobilize policy responses and cooperation across the Commonwealth.
The Senate Chairman extended a formal invitation to the UK Parliament to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference to be held in Islamabad on 11–12 November 2025, an event expected to bring together parliamentary leaders to deliberate on democratic governance and shared priorities.
The UK delegation praised Pakistan’s constructive role within the CPA and commended its efforts to promote regional peace, stability and cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing parliamentary dialogue and working together to uphold the Commonwealth’s principles of democracy, equality and inclusivity.
