Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Somalia in digital governance, foundational identity, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure. He emphasized the need for South-South cooperation to develop practical solutions to shared challenges.
According to Press Information Department, Chairman Gilani, speaking at the concluding ceremony of the Somalia-Pakistan Peer Learning Programme on Foundational ID and Digital Public Infrastructure in Islamabad, highlighted that international cooperation extends beyond formal agreements to include knowledge sharing and practical solutions aimed at strengthening institutions and improving citizens’ lives. He acknowledged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for facilitating the peer learning initiative and commended the collaboration between Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) as a significant example of South-South cooperation.
Chairman Gilani described a foundational identity system as a crucial element of a modern state, aiding access to public and private services and supporting financial inclusion. He pointed out that Pakistan’s experience through NADRA provides valuable insights into developing identity infrastructure for governance and service delivery. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of placing e-governance and digital transformation at the core of Pakistan’s national development agenda, with Parliament playing a pivotal role in ensuring that technology remains inclusive, secure, accountable, and rights-based.
He further elaborated on the Senate’s digital initiatives, mentioning efforts towards a paperless e-Parliament and the launch of the Senate Mobile Application. Additionally, he noted Pakistan’s recent membership in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) as a founding member, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to international cooperation in AI.
Chairman Gilani proposed strengthening institutional linkages between the Parliaments of Pakistan and Somalia through the exchange of experiences in legislation, oversight, digital transformation, and citizen engagement. He also highlighted the potential for broader technology cooperation within the OIC, especially in digital identity, e-government, financial inclusion, and AI. Development partners, including UNDP, were encouraged to continue supporting initiatives under South-South and Triangular Cooperation, with hopes for lasting collaboration between Pakistan and Somalia.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative of UNDP Pakistan; Mr. Abdiwali Ali, Director General of Somalia’s National Identification and Registration Authority; and other distinguished guests, experts, and speakers.