Tashkent : Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, met with Her Excellency Sahiba Gafarova, Chair of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent. The meeting served to reinforce the strong brotherly ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan and explore new avenues for enhanced parliamentary, economic, and political cooperation.
Recalling his recent visit to Baku for the 15th Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in February 2025, he highlighted the symbolic importance of the 14th-century Multani Caravanserai in Baku as a testament to this historical bond.
During the meeting, both sides lauded the growing collaboration between their respective parliaments, including the formation of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group and the upcoming visit of Pakistan’s Speaker National Assembly to Azerbaijan in the second half of 2025. Chairman Gillani also emphasized Pakistan’s interest in hosting the Third Trilateral Speakers’ Forum with Azerbaijan and Türkiye later this year.
The leaders acknowledged the importance of high-level political exchanges, particularly the reciprocal visits by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Azerbaijan (Feb 2025) and President Ilham Aliyev to Pakistan (July 2024), which yielded significant agreements across multiple sectors. President Aliyev’s forthcoming visit to Pakistan in April 2025 is also eagerly anticipated.
Discussions included a review of bilateral trade ties, with Chairman Gillani underscoring the need to unlock the full potential of economic cooperation. He welcomed the success of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Business Forum held in Baku in February, which convened over 150 business leaders and investors.
Connectivity and people-to-people ties were also highlighted, with over 72,000 Pakistanis visiting Azerbaijan in 2024, and the increase in direct flights between the two nations facilitating further exchange.
In addition to trade and cultural engagement, the two sides emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation in the areas of regional security, counterterrorism, and combating extremism. Chairman Gillani also highlighted the potential for collaboration in the energy sector, particularly in renewable energy and oil and gas.
Both parties reaffirmed their mutual support on core issues, with Pakistan reiterating its firm stance in support of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Karabagh. In return, Chairman Gillani appreciated Azerbaijan’s consistent backing of Pakistan’s position on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJ&K), particularly through the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir.
The Chair of the Milli Majlis and accompanying delegates extended heartfelt congratulations to the Chairman on being designated Founder President of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) in Malaysia, recognizing it as a testament to Pakistan’s rising stature in international parliamentary diplomacy.
In a further step toward institutionalizing cooperation, Chairman Gillani was also invited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on inter-parliamentary diplomacy, aimed at formalizing bilateral engagement, fostering dialogue, and creating new avenues for strategic parliamentary partnership.
In conclusion, the two parliamentary leaders agreed to continue strengthening bilateral engagement through sustained dialogue, increased exchanges, and a shared commitment to democratic values, peace, and regional cooperation.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation at the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent
In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral and parliamentary relations, the Hon’ble Chairman Senate of Pakistan held a productive meeting with the Speaker of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent.
During the meeting, the Chairman Senate extended warm greetings and appreciation to the Government and Parliament of Uzbekistan for their outstanding hosting of the IPU Assembly. He acknowledged Uzbekistan’s growing role in promoting international parliamentary diplomacy and regional cooperation.
Both leaders reaffirmed the historical and cultural ties that bind Pakistan and Uzbekistan, rooted in centuries of trade, scholarship, and shared heritage. The Chairman highlighted the enduring influence of Samarkand and Bukhara on South Asian history, especially during the Mughal era, and proposed deeper cultural and academic exchanges to further strengthen people-to-people bonds.
Emphasizing the value of inter-parliamentary collaboration, the Chairman proposed regular parliamentary exchanges and the activation of friendship groups to share legislative practices and enhance institutional coordination. He reiterated that parliamentary diplomacy is a powerful tool to address common regional and global challenges.
The meeting also focused on advancing economic cooperation. Both sides expressed optimism about the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and discussed potential collaboration in key sectors such as agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and information technology. The Chairman underscored the strategic importance of regional connectivity initiatives, particularly the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan railway project, as a vital trade corridor for the region.
In the area of regional security, the Chairman assured Pakistan’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts and stressed the importance of intelligence sharing, capacity-building, and maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan for broader regional prosperity.
On multilateral cooperation, both parties agreed to enhance collaboration in forums like the IPU, ECO, and SCO. Key areas identified for joint action included climate change, food security, and sustainable development.
The Chairman concluded by extending a cordial invitation to the Speaker of the Oliy Majlis and a parliamentary delegation to visit Pakistan, expressing confidence that the growing partnership between the two nations will continue to thrive based on mutual respect and shared goals.
Under Chairman Gilani’s leadership, Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation made a strong mark at the IPU Assembly, with three members securing key positions on influential IPU committees. Senator Farooq H. Naek was re-elected to the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani was elected to the Bureau of Young Parliamentarians, and Barrister Aqeel Malik, MNA, was appointed to the High-Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism. These appointments highlight Pakistan’s active role in global parliamentary diplomacy and its commitment to promoting democratic values, human rights, and regional peace.
The successful outcomes of these engagements underscore Pakistan’s strategic role in global parliamentary forums and its proactive stance in fostering deeper international cooperation. Chairman Gilani’s leadership and the robust diplomacy displayed by Pakistan’s delegation at the 150th IPU Assembly have firmly positioned Pakistan as a key player in shaping global parliamentary discourse, while also paving the way for stronger ties with Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and other international partners.