Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani met with Ethiopian Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula at the Parliament House in Islamabad to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia. The two officials exchanged views on trade, investment, environmental collaboration, and various regional and global issues.
During the meeting, Chairman Gilani highlighted the long-standing and historic ties between Pakistan and Ethiopia. He welcomed the establishment of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad and the launch of direct Ethiopian Airlines flights between Karachi and Addis Ababa, describing these developments as key milestones in enhancing bilateral relations. Gilani also emphasized the importance of finalizing an air services agreement to unlock new opportunities in trade and investment.
Chairman Senate expressed gratitude to Ethiopia for supporting Pakistan’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2025-26. He noted that close cooperation between the two countries at both regional and international levels has consistently strengthened their mutual ties.
Underscoring the role of parliamentary diplomacy, Gilani mentioned the activities of the Pakistan–Ethiopia Parliamentary Friendship Group and called for further promotion of parliamentary exchange and people-to-people contact. He reiterated that economic diplomacy remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, and stressed the need for greater efforts to diversify bilateral trade.
Pointing to Pakistan’s globally recognized exports such as high-quality rice, surgical and medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and FIFA-standard footballs, Gilani suggested these as sectors where Ethiopia could expand its imports. He also highlighted significant potential for collaboration in information technology, science, education, and vocational training.
On environmental issues, Gilani praised Ethiopia’s Green Dialogue program and called for joint efforts to achieve a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. In line with this spirit, both sides joined a tree-planting activity in the Parliament House’s Friendship Garden as part of an environmental campaign.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Gilani invited Ethiopian parliamentary leaders to participate in the upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference to be held in November, emphasizing the importance of collective strategy in addressing shared challenges.
The meeting was also attended by Senators Sherry Rehman, Irfan Siddiqui, Syed Ali Zafar, and Consultant Ms. Misbah Khar. Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula endorsed the Chairman Senate’s views and commended his efforts to enhance Pakistan’s international relations, assuring Ethiopia’s continued cooperation and underlining the shared interests that can further solidify the countries’ friendship.
