Islamabad, August 25, 2026: Deputy Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman called on National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at Parliament House on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on strengthening parliamentary cooperation, institutional capacity and development in the region.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq congratulated Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman on his election as Deputy Speaker of the GB Assembly and expressed his best wishes for the successful discharge of his new responsibilities.
The National Assembly Speaker reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing legislative cooperation among all legislative institutions across the country, saying greater coordination in parliamentary and legislative affairs would help strengthen the institutional capacity of the GB Assembly.
He highlighted the importance of training programmes conducted through the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) for members and staff of the GB Assembly, saying such initiatives could contribute to improved legislative performance, parliamentary efficiency and institutional development.
Ayaz Sadiq also underscored the role of the Speakers’ Conference as an effective platform for promoting coordination, consensus-building and the exchange of parliamentary experiences among the country’s legislative institutions.
The Speaker said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a game changer for regional development and prosperity, while Gilgit-Baltistan possessed considerable potential in mineral resources and tourism that could make a significant contribution to Pakistan’s economic growth.
Highlighting the importance of the mining sector, he called for mineral exploration and extraction to be modernised and streamlined through a professional, transparent and systematic framework. He stressed that greater public participation and institutional reforms were essential to ensuring sustainable development of the sector and maximising its contribution to socio-economic progress.
The National Assembly Speaker also described the Diamer-Bhasha Dam as a project of immense national significance, saying it had the potential to generate transformative socio-economic benefits through improved water security, increased energy generation and broader economic development.
Deputy Speaker Malik Kifayat-ur-Rehman thanked Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for his good wishes and continued support, reaffirming the importance of parliamentary cooperation between the National Assembly and the GB Assembly.
