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Event Title: Chairman Senate, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani in a meeting with Delegation of Bangladesh Civil Servants Under Executive Development Programme, at Parliament House, Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-05-19
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Welcomes Bangladesh Delegation at Parliament House; Calls for Stronger Parliamentary and Institutional Partnership
Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, warmly received the officers and participants of the Executive Development Programme from Bangladesh during an interactive session held at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor Initiative.
Welcoming the visiting delegation, the Chairman Senate reaffirmed that Pakistan attaches immense importance to its historic, fraternal, and enduring relations with Bangladesh. He emphasized that sustained engagement, institutional partnerships, and enhanced people-to-people contacts remain essential for fostering mutual understanding, regional harmony, and shared prosperity.
He commended the efforts of the Civil Services Academy and partner institutions for organizing the exchange programme, describing it as a significant initiative aimed at deepening professional cooperation, administrative learning, and institutional connectivity between the two countries.
Chairman Senate expressed particular satisfaction that the delegation was led by a woman officer, calling it a commendable reflection of women empowerment and inclusive governance within public administration. He observed that women have consistently played a pivotal role in national development and decision-making processes. Recalling his public service career, he stated that he has always championed women leadership and entrusted women officers with key administrative responsibilities, both during his tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan and in his current role as Chairman Senate.
Highlighting the expanding scope of parliamentary cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Chairman Senate noted that both nations share common aspirations for peace, stability, democratic progress, and economic development. Referring to Bangladesh’s interest in evolving toward a bicameral parliamentary structure, he stated that Pakistan stands ready to share its parliamentary experience and institutional expertise.
In his capacity as President of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), he expressed his desire to work closely with the Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament to strengthen parliamentary engagement and institutional collaboration. He welcomed the possibility of launching training and capacity-building programmes for officials of the Jatiya Sangsad at PIPS, terming it a meaningful step toward enhanced inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Chairman Senate further observed that modern governance systems today face unprecedented challenges, including economic uncertainty, climate pressures, and rising public expectations. In this context, he underscored the importance of responsive institutions, constitutional balance, transparency, and effective coordination among parliament, the executive, and civil services.
He remarked that parliament represents the aspirations of the people through legislation, oversight, and accountability, while the executive provides policy direction and the civil service ensures continuity and efficient public service delivery. Effective governance, he stressed, becomes possible only when all state institutions work collectively with shared purpose, institutional harmony, and mutual trust.
Addressing the participants, Chairman Senate stated that today’s civil servants must not only administer effectively but also innovate, adapt, and respond proactively to rapidly evolving global realities. He added that exchange programmes such as the Executive Development Programme create valuable avenues for professional learning, policy dialogue, institutional networking, and long-term understanding among public servants across the region.
Reiterating the importance of regional engagement, Chairman Senate stated that Pakistan and Bangladesh possess enormous human and institutional potential and can jointly contribute toward regional stability, stronger governance frameworks, and sustainable development through continued dialogue, cooperation, and constructive interaction.
Chairman Senate also briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s constitutional evolution and the role of the Senate as the House of Federation, ensuring equal representation of federating units within the parliamentary system. He paid tribute to the visionary leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for their historic contributions toward strengthening Pakistan’s constitutional and democratic framework.
He further informed the delegation that he remains the only politician in Pakistan to have served in every major constitutional office of the country and also shared aspects of his personal legacy and longstanding connection with Bangladesh.
Chairman Senate also highlighted the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), of which he is the founding chairman. He underscored the continued relevance of the ISC theme, “Peace, Security and Development,” in addressing contemporary global and regional challenges. He called for greater parliamentary coordination, expanded people-to-people exchanges, and increased delegation visits between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Concluding the meeting, Chairman Senate extended his best wishes to the visiting delegation and expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen bilateral understanding, institutional linkages, and the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“Long Live Pakistan–Bangladesh Friendship,” Chairman Senate remarked.
The delegation thanked Chairman Senate for the insightful interaction and appreciated the warm hospitality and cooperation extended during their visit. The participants acknowledged the value of learning from his vast parliamentary, political, and administrative experience.
Advisor to Chairman Senate and Ambassador to ISC Ms. Misbah Khar, Principal Secretary to Chairman Senate Ms. Rabeea Anwar, and Senior DG Protocol Tariq Bin Waheed were also present on the occasion.