Islamabad: Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has emphasised that peace, security, and development are inseparable foundations of sustainable progress, warning that no nation can advance in the absence of peace and security, while development without stability remains fragile and short-lived.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference held in Islamabad on Tuesday. The international gathering, hosted under the theme “Peace, Security and Development”, brought together parliamentary leaders from across the globe and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
Welcoming the delegates on behalf of Pakistan’s Parliament and its people, Mr Gilani termed the conference a historic moment for parliamentary diplomacy. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for attending the event, describing his presence as a clear reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and multilateral engagement.
The Senate chairman said the conference represented a defining step in strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, as it united representatives from both the Global North and the Global South to deliberate on shared global challenges and collective solutions.
Highlighting the prevailing global situation, Mr Gilani observed that the world was experiencing unprecedented instability driven by armed conflicts, economic shocks, climate change, and rapid technological transformations.
“Peace is unravelling before our eyes — from Gaza to Sudan to Occupied Kashmir,” he said, stressing that in such turbulent times, parliaments must play a central role in fostering understanding, trust, and cooperation across political and regional divides.
He called for a broader and more inclusive conception of security — one that goes beyond military considerations to include economic resilience, climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, food and water security, and digital integrity. Referring to Pakistan’s minimal contribution to global carbon emissions despite its acute vulnerability to climate change, he described collective parliamentary action as both a moral and practical necessity.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s enduring commitment to global peace and security under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Mr Gilani recalled Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and its longstanding participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He noted that despite repeated provocations along Pakistan’s eastern and north-western borders, the country had consistently demonstrated restraint and maturity.
“We have always extended the hand of dialogue, because peace is a two-way street that requires sincerity and reciprocity,” he said.
Emphasising the responsibility of legislatures, the Senate chairman said parliaments were not passive observers but active drivers of trust, consensus-building, and representation of the people during times of global uncertainty.
Calling for concrete outcomes from the conference, he urged participating delegates to move beyond declarations and rhetoric and to share practical, implementable solutions informed by the diverse experiences of their respective nations.
Earlier, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, Ek Nath Dhakal, expressed deep appreciation to the government and people of Pakistan for hosting the conference in Islamabad. He acknowledged the role of the Senate of Pakistan in co-hosting the event and facilitating meaningful parliamentary dialogue among international participants.
