On the sidelines of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Bridgetown, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani held a bilateral meeting with the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation led by MP Kate Osamor, Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The UK group included Lord Syed Salah Kamall, MP David Mundell and Baroness Lindsay Northover, while Pakistan was represented by Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Mohsin Aziz and Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Awais Qadir Shah.
Chairman Gilani highlighted the depth and history of Pakistan UK relations and called for strengthened parliamentary engagement under the CPA framework to address shared challenges. He outlined Pakistan’s principled stance on key international issues, reiterating support for the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as envisaged in UN resolutions, while also raising concerns about the ongoing situation in Palestine.
The discussions covered the need for sustained international cooperation on peace and security matters, including developments in Afghanistan, and stressed the urgency of collective action on climate change. Chairman Gilani formally invited the UK Parliament to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference to be held in Islamabad on 11–12 Nov 2025, noting that the gathering will bring parliamentary leaders together to deliberate on democratic values and contemporary governance challenges.
The UK delegation welcomed Pakistan’s active role within the CPA and commended efforts to promote regional peace, stability and cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening inter-parliamentary dialogue and to working together to uphold the Commonwealth principles of democracy, equality and inclusivity as part of ongoing efforts to advance Pakistan UK relations.
