BY: Hurish Shah:
ISLAMABAD—Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani emphasized strengthening Pakistan–Canada relations through parliamentary diplomacy, enhanced trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges while welcoming Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand during her first official visit to Pakistan.
Addressing a reception in Anita Anand’s honour and later meeting her delegation, Gilani highlighted the nearly eight-decade-long friendship between Pakistan and Canada, built on mutual respect, political dialogue, economic cooperation, educational exchanges and the contributions of the Pakistani community in Canada.
He appreciated the positive outcomes of recent talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Anita Anand, saying they had further strengthened bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Gilani also invited Canada to actively participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) to expand parliamentary engagement and cooperation.
The two sides discussed enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, energy, mining, information technology, artificial intelligence, education, climate change and clean technology. Gilani encouraged Canadian investment under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and welcomed progress on the proposed Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).
The Chairman Senate also reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, called for stronger parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, and expressed confidence that Anita Anand’s visit would further strengthen Pakistan–Canada relations and open new avenues for peace, prosperity and sustainable development.
