President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday emphasized that the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC) had created space for genuine discussion, built friendships and opened new avenues of cooperation among parliaments.
He was speaking at a dinner hosted at Aiwan-e-Sadr in honour of the delegates attending the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC).
Welcoming the participants, the president said the conference had not only encouraged constructive debate but had also helped strengthen the spirit of parliamentary diplomacy.
He said that over the past two days, parliamentarians from across the world had shown how dialogue and mutual respect could advance peace, development and stability.
The president noted that the challenges facing nations today, whether economic, environmental or security-related, require collective action.
President Zardari appreciated the leadership of Senate Chairman and Founding Chairman of the ISC, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, whose initiative had helped shape the conference into an effective platform for inter-parliamentary engagement. He expressed confidence that the ISC would continue to grow as a forum for constructive collaboration and shared progress.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday invited the investors and traders of Guatemala to invest in Pakistan under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework, which provides a single-window platform for investors in key sectors including agriculture, IT, energy, mining and defence production.
In a meeting with former President of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, currently serving as Speaker of Guatemala’s Parliament, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr today, the president said that Pakistan values its relations with Guatemala and looks forward to stronger cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.
He noted that both countries face common challenges in rural development, climate resilience, and economic modernisation and identified sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and health sciences as areas for practical collaboration.
The president appreciated Guatemala’s support at the United Nations, including for Pakistan’s candidatures to the Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council and called for continued cooperation at multilateral fora. He also underscored the importance of strengthening parliamentary and institutional linkages through exchanges and dialogue on governance, saying geographical distance should not limit engagement between the two countries.
Mr Morales thanked Pakistan for hosting the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference and for inviting him to participate.
He said that such interactions would pave the way for new opportunities of cooperation between the two countries.
He added that Guatemala, the largest country in Central America, wishes to learn from Pakistan’s experience in various sectors. Mr Morales said that he was in Pakistan “to open doors between Pakistan and Guatemala for business and trade.”
Meanwhile, Zardari on Wednesday called for stronger economic engagement, including enhanced trade in food and pharmaceutical products and greater private-sector collaboration with Philippines.
He said Pakistan stands with the Philippines in its recovery and commended Manila’s leadership in advancing regional climate resilience, including through the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund to be based in Manila.
President Zardari was talking to former President and current Member of the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal, who called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Welcoming Ms Macapagal, the president said that Pakistan and the Philippines share over seven decades of enduring friendship and cooperation across political, economic, and defence fields.
The president said the 2022 MoU on Bilateral Defence Cooperation was a milestone and congratulated the Philippines on assuming the ASEAN Chairship for 2026. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s appreciation for Manila’s continued support for Pakistan’s engagement with ASEAN.
President Zardari expressed solidarity with the people and government of the Philippines over the loss of lives and widespread damage caused by the recent earthquake in Cebu and Typhoons Kalmaegi and Fung-wong.
He appreciated the Philippines’ decision to grant long-term residence permits to Pakistanis married to Filipino nationals and hoped for reciprocal facilitation for Pakistani visitors.
Ms Macapagal thanked President Zardari for the warm welcome and reaffirmed her country’s resolve to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in trade, defence, and people-to-people exchanges. She expressed sympathies over the loss of lives in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Recalling her father’s visit to Pakistan in 1959, when he served as President of the Philippines, she said that Pakistan and the Philippines have long shared bonds of mutual respect and friendship.
Ms Macapagal noted that being a vibrant part of the Global South and the fifth most populous nation in the world, Pakistan must take a leadership role for other countries to follow.
Ambassador of the Philippines to Pakistan, Emmanuel R. Fernandez was also present during the meeting.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Senator Sherry Rehman, and Senator Saleem Mandviwala also attended the meeting.