ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday bid farewell to Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr Khazar Farhadov at Parliament House and praised his role in further consolidating the historic, brotherly and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Welcoming the outgoing ambassador, the Chairman Senate appreciated his efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation and broaden political, parliamentary, economic and people-to-people linkages during his tenure. He said the ambassador’s active engagement had helped reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries, which was based on mutual trust, shared values and consistent support for each other on issues of national importance.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in high-level exchanges between the leadership of the two countries. He referred to the landmark visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Pakistan and the subsequent visits of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Baku, saying these contacts had taken bilateral relations to new heights.
Recalling his own visits to Baku, the Chairman Senate underlined the expanding parliamentary cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. He stressed the need to strengthen interaction between parliamentary committees and Parliamentary Friendship Groups, observing that parliamentary diplomacy remained an important pillar of bilateral relations. He also conveyed best wishes to Speaker of the Milli Majlis H.E. Ms Sahiba Gafarova.
The Chairman Senate welcomed the positive trend in bilateral trade and investment and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to achieving the agreed US$2 billion investment target. He also appreciated Azerbaijan’s decision to reduce import duty on Pakistani rice to zero until 2027.
He emphasised the need to widen cooperation in energy, information technology, agriculture, healthcare, artificial intelligence, innovation and tourism.
Referring to improved connectivity, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani welcomed the start of direct flights and the ASAN visa programme, describing them as significant steps for promoting tourism, business links and people-to-people exchanges.
The Chairman Senate reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also thanked Azerbaijan for its consistent support to Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He said relations between the two countries were rooted not only in common strategic interests but also in deep historical and cultural links, symbolised by the historic Multani Caravanserai in Baku.
Ambassador Khazar Farhadov thanked the Chairman Senate for the warm sentiments and hospitality extended to him during his tenure. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to further strengthening its close friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Pakistan.
Senator Kazim Ali Shah, Chairman Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate; Syed Raza Ali Gillani, MNA and Chairman Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group in the National Assembly; Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar; Ms Misbah Khar, Adviser to the Chairman Senate; and Syed Qamar Raza, Chairman, Board of Governors, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, also attended the meeting.
