Islamabad, May 19, 2026: Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday called for strengthening parliamentary and institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, emphasizing enhanced engagement, dialogue, and people-to-people contacts to promote regional harmony and mutual prosperity.
He made these remarks during an interactive session at Parliament House with a visiting delegation from Bangladesh’s Executive Development Programme, held under the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative.
Welcoming the delegation, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani reaffirmed that Pakistan attaches great importance to its historic, fraternal, and enduring relations with Bangladesh.
He said sustained institutional partnerships and increased exchanges between the two countries were essential for fostering mutual understanding and regional cooperation.
The Senate chairman commended the Civil Services Academy and partner institutions for organizing the exchange programme, describing it as a valuable initiative to promote professional collaboration and administrative learning between the two countries.
He also expressed appreciation that the delegation was led by a woman officer, calling it a positive reflection of women empowerment and inclusive governance in public administration.
Recalling his own public service experience, he said he has consistently supported women’s leadership and assigned key responsibilities to women officers during his political and administrative career.
Highlighting prospects for parliamentary cooperation, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani noted that Pakistan and Bangladesh share common aspirations for peace, stability, democratic progress, and economic development.
Referring to Bangladesh’s interest in evolving toward a bicameral parliamentary system, he said Pakistan stands ready to share its parliamentary experience and institutional expertise.
In his capacity as President of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), he expressed willingness to work closely with the Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament to enhance institutional cooperation and parliamentary engagement.
He also proposed training and capacity-building programmes for officials of Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad, terming it a step forward in strengthening inter-parliamentary collaboration.
The Senate chairman further said that modern governance systems face growing challenges such as economic uncertainty, climate change, and rising public expectations, underscoring the need for responsive institutions, transparency, and effective coordination among state organs.
He emphasized that parliament, the executive, and the civil service must work in close harmony to ensure effective governance and public service delivery.
Addressing the participants, he said civil servants must continuously innovate and adapt to evolving global realities, adding that exchange programmes provide valuable opportunities for professional growth and policy learning.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s constitutional evolution and the role of the Senate as the House of Federation, ensuring equal representation of the federating units.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani paid tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for their contributions to Pakistan’s democratic and constitutional development.
He further noted that he has served in all major constitutional offices of Pakistan, sharing insights from his long parliamentary and political career.
Referring to the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), he stressed the importance of continued engagement under the theme “Peace, Security and Development,” and called for increased parliamentary exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Concluding the session, he expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen bilateral understanding and institutional linkages, and reiterated his best wishes for Pakistan–Bangladesh friendship.
The delegation thanked the Senate chairman for the warm hospitality and appreciated his insights and parliamentary experience.
