Islamabad: In a pivotal legislative development, the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui, unanimously approved The Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (Implementation) Bill, 2025. This approval signifies a critical step towards aligning Pakistan’s national laws with its international commitments under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
Attending the meeting were Senators Sherry Rehman, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Rana Mahmood Hassan, and Rubina Qaim Khani, alongside Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq Khan, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and other senior ministry officials.
The Committee was informed that the bill had been pending for decades and was passed by the National Assembly on January 23, 2025, after its approval by the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases in November 2024. The draft had undergone vetting by the Ministry of Law and Justice and received endorsements from both the Cabinet Committee and the Federal Cabinet before its introduction to parliament.
The bill calls for a national mechanism to ensure BWC compliance, aiming to prevent the creation, manufacture, and movement of toxins intended for biological weapons in Pakistan. It also seeks to implement monitoring systems to fulfill treaty obligations. The Ministry clarified that no additional financial or human resources are required under the bill.
Senator Sherry Rehman highlighted concerns regarding the undefined composition of the proposed Central Authority responsible for BWC compliance. She stressed the need for clarity on its structure and the inclusion of Provincial Governments. Her concerns were formally addressed in an amendment before the bill’s unanimous passage.
In another agenda item, the Committee reviewed progress on establishing a Facilitation Desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to aid families of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad. Officials from the Overseas Pakistanis Directorate detailed their role as the central coordination hub for the concerns of approximately 9 million Pakistanis living overseas. The Ministry reported the successful repatriation of over 2,000 Pakistani prisoners, notably from Saudi Arabia, facilitated by prisoner transfer agreements.
An in-camera session was conducted to evaluate Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan. Ambassador Sadiq Khan briefed the committee on ongoing interactions with Afghan counterparts, expressing optimism for future bilateral improvements.
The session also addressed a recent tragic incident involving the deaths of eight Pakistanis in Iran, all from Bahawalpur. The Ministry assured that repatriation arrangements are in progress, with Iranian authorities cooperating and the Embassy in Tehran actively working to expedite the return of the bodies.
A starred question from Senator Danesh Kumar was deferred due to his absence from the session.