ISLAMABAD - Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has proposed a regional conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians in Islamabad to learn more from each other’s experiences.
He put forward this proposal during his visit to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Headquarters in London, said a statement issued by the Senate Secretariat.
Joe Omorodion, Acting Secretary General welcomed this idea and assured to work in partnership with Pakistan to organise this event. He further said that the proposal of regional conference greatly helps CPA’s objective of outreach.
The Chairman Senate expressed satisfaction over the existing level of cooperation between the CPA Headquarters and the Pakistan branch of CPA. However, he underlined the need to further institutionalize this cooperation through parliamentary exchanges, conferences and seminars. He held detailed discussion with the Acting Secretary General CPA on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
On his arrival at the CPA Headquarters, the acting secretary general accorded the Chairman Senate a warm welcome. Joe Omorodion gave the Chairman a comprehensive briefing on the working, organisational structure, and aims and objectives of the CPA. The chairman was also apprised on the upcoming projects and activities of the association, with special focus on South Asia.
The chairman Senate updated the acting secretary general on the activities of the Pakistan branch of CPA, the secretariat of which rotates between National Assembly and Senate on yearly basis-currently the secretariat being with the Senate.
Joe Omorodion acknowledged Pakistan’s meaningful engagement with the CPA and said the CPA was encouraged by Pakistan’s commitment to having firm association with it. He also offered assistance in research to further improve the effectiveness of Parliament of Pakistan.
The two sides expressed desire to forge even stronger relations between the CPA Headquarters and the Pakistan branch of CPA to benefit from each other’s expertise.