Tashkent: In a meeting held on the sidelines of the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, engaged with the Chairman of Bahrain’s Consultative Council. The discussions reaffirmed the brotherly ties and highlighted a mutual commitment to enhancing bilateral and parliamentary relations.

Chairman Gillani conveyed greetings to His Majesty King Muhammad VI and celebrated the enduring historical, cultural, and religious connections between Pakistan and Bahrain. The talks primarily focused on bolstering parliamentary cooperation, economic engagement, and regional connectivity.

Both leaders acknowledged the significance of ongoing parliamentary exchanges and collaborations through joint committees. Chairman Gillani emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing platforms to strengthen institutional ties and recalled previous engagements with Bahrain that laid the groundwork for collaboration in defense, trade, and labor sectors.

He proposed the establishment of a Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Business Council, highlighting opportunities in Special Economic Zones, infrastructure, IT, and tourism. The expansion of private-sector linkages was also discussed to foster sustainable trade and investment partnerships.

The meeting further underscored the importance of defense cooperation, with Pakistan expressing readiness for collaboration in training and capacity building. Labor relations were also addressed, with encouragement for Bahrain to expand employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers.

Regional and multilateral collaboration remained a focal point, with discussions on promoting peace and development through forums like the IPU, OIC, and ECO. Chairman Gillani stressed the need for joint action on challenges such as climate change, food security, and economic resilience.

Cultural and educational exchanges were proposed to strengthen people-to-people connections, including student exchange programs and academic collaborations. Chairman Gillani reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the rights of Palestinian and Kashmiri people and called for advocacy at international forums for justice and human rights.

The meeting concluded with optimism for the continued growth of Pakistan-Bahrain relations, with an invitation extended for future high-level parliamentary visits to Pakistan.