ISLAMABAD: Improved cooperation between Pakistan’s parliament and the Saudi Shoura Council will have an impact on the whole course of bilateral relations, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser told Arab News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
“We have signed a memorandum of understanding between the National Assembly of Pakistan and Saudi Shoura Council on Dec. 23 in Riyadh,” Qaiser said, adding that the agreement forges collaboration between the standing committees of the Pakistani parliament and of the Shoura Council.
They will collaborate to “directly benefit each and every field, as we have a standing committee for each ministry,” and the collaboration will lead to policy changes and enhance cooperation on the ministerial level, as every minister is a member of the committee related to his or her institution.
“Under the MoU, Pakistan will provide training to Saudi Shoura Council members at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS),” Qaiser said.
Economic ties are expected to improve through the collaboration as the standing committees for commerce “will work closely to enhance bilateral trade,” Qaiser said, citing very low current trading volumes between the two countries. The Assembly and Shoura “will make a combined standing committee and prepare recommendations for policy changes on both sides, which will be subsequently implemented by the respective commerce ministries.” The committee will also identify potential export goods.
He said that cultural exchanges as well would get a boost as Shoura chairman Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh has shown great interest in enhancing cultural relations, especially as Pakistanis are historically and religiously familiar with Saudi culture.
“Both countries will also closely consult on legislative procedures under this MoU,” Qaisar said, adding that he has already started meetings with parliamentary leaders of different political parties in the National Assembly to get the agreement with Shoura “fully functional within the next few months.”
He said that during his last visit discussions took place on holding an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers session on Kashmir in Islamabad, as Saudi Arabia supports Pakistan’s approach to the situation in the Indian-administered territory.
“Pakistan always maintained that Kashmir issue should be resolved according to UN resolutions,” Qaiser said, adding that Saudi King Salman agreed with the stance and also expressed his desire for the OIC session to take place.
However, since tensions are developing in the Middle East, the meeting will have to be postponed.
Pakistan to train Saudi parliamentarians, says National Assembly Speaker
https://arab.news/gv8wm
Pakistan to train Saudi parliamentarians, says National Assembly Speaker
- Says Pakistan-Saudi parliamentary cooperation will lead to policy changes
- The two countries will also work closely to enhance bilateral trade
Pakistan PM to attend World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland next month
- The WEF meeting, scheduled to be held in Davos on Jan. 19-23, will focus on global challenges, public-private dialogue and cooperation
- Government, business, civil society and academia leaders will engage in forward-looking discussions to address these issues, set priorities
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Switzerland next month to attend the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The WEF annual meeting, themed as ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23 in Davos, where world leaders from government, business, civil society and academia will engage in forward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.
Prime Minister Sharif is expected to interact with global leaders and investors on economic challenges, regional and international issues and various opportunities for cooperation.
On Monday, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting in Islamabad to oversee preparations for Sharif’s upcoming visit to Switzerland to attend the WEF meeting, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Dar instructed to maximize the engagements with the incoming Heads of States, Governments and senior leadership of economic, business and financial institutions,” the report read.
The WEF meeting program will be structured around key global challenges where public-private dialogue and cooperation, involving all stakeholders, is necessary for progress, according to the WEF website.
In addressing these challenges, growth, resilience and innovation will serve as cross-cutting imperatives, guiding how leaders engage with today’s complexity and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities.
Pakistani foreign ministry officials briefed the deputy PM about preparations for the WEF meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. The participants of Monday’s meeting in Islamabad discussed in detail the bilateral component and media engagements during the visit.
“He [Dar] further stressed that opportunities be explored to foster collaboration with private sector business entities,” the state broadcaster said.
