IPU President calls on PM Khan, President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Ms Gabriela Cuevas Barron, who is on an official visit to Pakistan, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan.

During the meeting, the prime minister and the IPU President exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to inter-parliamentary cooperation, Covid-19 pandemic, and regional peace and security.

Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated Ms Gabriela Barron’s contribution as IPU President to advance the role of parliaments and parliamentarians and highlighted the role of IPU in facilitating parliamentary diplomacy.

He highlighted the unprecedented global health and economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and noted that the government’s emphasis had been on saving lives, securing livelihoods, and stimulating the economy. He underlined the ‘smart lockdown’ policy and other measures taken by the government had led to a significant improvement in the pandemic situation in Pakistan.

As conflict resolution is one of IPU’s key strategic priorities, the prime minister emphasised the important role of the international community in resolving the ongoing conflicts in different parts of the world and the importance of a just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute for peace and stability in South Asia.

He also underscored Pakistan’s long-standing support for a political solution in Afghanistan and contribution towards the peace and reconciliation process. Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani also attended the meeting.

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In a separate visit, the President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Ms Gabriela Cuevas Barron called on President Dr Arif Alvi.

President Alvi urged the International Community to take note of human rights violation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) wherein the Indian government has imposed the worst lockdown and the innocent people have been subjected to human rights abuses. He hoped that IPU would play its role to protect the rights of the people of occupied Kashmir

Ms Gabriela Cuevas Barron said that her country wanted to work with Pakistan for promoting closer ties in areas of mutual interest. Both sides emphasized the need to further strengthen bilateral relations in all fields to the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.

The president hoped that the visit would help strengthen parliamentary relations between the Parliament of Pakistan and IPU member parliaments. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjraniand Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi.