ISLAMABAD: Foreign parliamentary delegations from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Malaysia and more than a dozen other countries began arriving in Islamabad on Monday to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

The two-day conference, which opens Tuesday, brings together speakers, deputy speakers and parliamentary representatives from over 40 countries in an effort to expand Pakistan’s role in global parliamentary diplomacy, according to event organizers. It comes at a moment of heightened regional tensions, particularly surrounding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and shifting alignments in the Middle East and South Asia.

Radio Pakistan said representatives from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Palestine, Algeria, Barbados, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Tajikistan, Morocco, Maldives, Serbia, the Philippines and Rwanda had already reached Islamabad.

“This historic gathering marks the beginning of a new chapter in parliamentary diplomacy, one that places dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect at the heart of our collective efforts,” Radio Pakistan quoted Senate officials as saying.

The conference is designed as a platform for parliamentary leaders to exchange views on peace, security, development and legislative cooperation, including how elected bodies can address shared global challenges. Organizers say discussions are expected to cover economic resilience, digital governance, conflict mediation, humanitarian relief cooperation, climate adaptation and parliamentary transparency.

Pakistan has stepped up parliamentary diplomacy in recent years, seeking to expand political ties beyond the executive branch and build coalitions on issues such as Gaza, Kashmir, climate vulnerability and developing-country debt reform. 

Officials say the upcoming sessions will also allow bilateral meetings on the sidelines, including with delegations from Saudi Arabia and Palestine.