Islamabad (TDI): National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday underscored that vibrant parliamentary diplomacy is vital for promoting peace, ensuring regional stability, and advancing sustainable development to effectively address shared global challenges.
He made these remarks while meeting a high-level Uzbek parliamentary delegation led by Nuriddin Ismoilov, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, who is on an official visit to Islamabad.
Welcoming the delegation, Speaker Sadiq highlighted the historic and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, rooted in shared faith, culture, and centuries-old civilizational links. He said Pakistan regards Uzbekistan as a key regional partner and is eager to expand cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure, and connectivity.
He invited Uzbekistan to utilize Pakistan’s strategic location and access to ports like Gwadar and Karachi as gateways to global markets. The Speaker emphasized the role of forums such as the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO) in strengthening legislative cooperation. He also lauded Uzbekistan for successfully hosting the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference.
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On regional issues, Sadiq said Pakistan, despite being one of the least contributors to climate change, faces severe environmental challenges. He praised the NDMA’s performance during the recent floods and called for collective regional efforts to mitigate climate impacts. He also strongly condemned human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Israeli aggression in Gaza, stressing that peace in South Asia and the Middle East is impossible without a just resolution of the Kashmir and Palestine disputes.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on regional security, he urged Afghanistan to ensure its soil is not used for terrorism. He added that upcoming parliamentary visits from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Iran reflect the growing trust of friendly nations in Pakistan’s democratic institutions.
In his remarks, Speaker Nuriddin Ismoilov expressed gratitude for the warm reception and praised Speaker Sadiq’s leadership in promoting parliamentary diplomacy. He said Uzbekistan values Pakistan’s strategic importance in regional connectivity, trade, and energy corridors, and noted that both countries could share experiences in combating terrorism.
He lauded Pakistan’s balanced diplomatic response during recent tensions with India and called for joint strategies to address climate change. Referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Tashkent as a milestone, he said it had given fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
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He reaffirmed that ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are based on brotherhood, trust, and shared interests, adding that closer parliamentary cooperation would further strengthen bonds between the two nations.
The Uzbek delegation also toured Parliament House, signed the official guest book, and exchanged souvenirs with their Pakistani counterparts.
