Islamabad, February 25, 2026: Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday received Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan, during a call-on meeting at the Parliament House.
Welcoming the Ambassador, Chairman Senate reaffirmed that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoy cordial and brotherly relations rooted in mutual respect, shared cultural heritage and longstanding cooperation. He recalled his official visit to Turkmenistan in May last year, where he met with the country’s leadership, including President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, describing the engagements as productive and instrumental in opening new avenues for bilateral collaboration.
Highlighting historical ties, the Chairman noted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Turkmenistan’s independence in 1991, with diplomatic relations formally established in May 1992. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality and recalled Pakistan’s role as co-sponsor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing Turkmenistan’s neutrality.
Referring to recent high-level exchanges, he mentioned visits by Pakistan’s President, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to Turkmenistan, including the Prime Minister’s participation in the United Nations International Forum of Peace and Trust in December 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality. On the sidelines of the forum, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with President Berdimuhamedow, where both sides agreed to expand economic cooperation. An invitation has also been extended to the Turkmen President to undertake an official visit to Pakistan in 2026.
Underscoring Turkmenistan’s strategic importance for Pakistan, Chairman Senate highlighted vast potential for cooperation in energy, LPG, trade and investment. He stressed the importance of advancing regional connectivity projects, including railway linkages and the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Gas Pipeline (TAPI), as well as enhancing transit trade and economic integration. He also briefed the Ambassador on Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which offers a one-window mechanism to facilitate foreign investment, and invited Turkmenistan to explore opportunities in IT, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and other priority sectors.
Emphasising parliamentary diplomacy, the Chairman referred to the successful hosting of the 1st Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference in Islamabad under the theme “Peace, Security and Development,” terming it highly relevant in today’s global context. He extended invitations to the President of Turkmenistan and the Speaker of the Milli Majlis to visit Pakistan and participate in the forthcoming ISC scheduled to be held in Cambodia.
The Chairman noted that Parliamentary Friendship Groups in both countries continue to serve as effective platforms for dialogue and legislative cooperation. Following Pakistan’s general elections in February 2024, new Parliamentary Friendship Groups with Turkmenistan were constituted in both Houses of Parliament. He emphasized that regular exchanges of parliamentary delegations and joint engagements are essential for strengthening mutual trust.
Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support and reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation across political, economic, cultural and parliamentary spheres. He expressed optimism about enhanced collaboration in energy, railway connectivity, transit trade and regional integration, including through Gwadar Port.
Later, Syed Qamar Raza, Chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, briefed the Chairman Senate on issues faced by overseas Pakistanis and ongoing reforms aimed at improving facilitation services.
Chairman Senate Gilani described overseas Pakistanis as a valuable national asset who contribute significantly through remittances and by promoting a positive image of Pakistan abroad. He stressed the need for timely resolution of their issues, protection of their investments and provision of efficient one-window services, assuring full legislative support to safeguard their rights.
Advisor to Chairman Senate and Ambassador for the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference, Misbah Khar, and Senior DG Protocol Tariq Bin Waheed were also present during the meeting.
