Islamabad, July 23:Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani met with the Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan, H.E. Ms. Rita Dhital, at the Parliament House in Islamabad. The meeting focused on deepening bilateral ties, enhancing parliamentary and diplomatic cooperation, and boosting trade and cultural exchanges between the two friendly nations.
Chairman Gillani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to its cordial and brotherly relations with Nepal, describing the longstanding ties as rooted in mutual respect and shared regional aspirations. He emphasized that Pakistan seeks to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
“High-level parliamentary and diplomatic engagements are the need of the hour,” said Chairman Gillani, highlighting the role of people-to-people contact and cultural diplomacy in strengthening regional harmony.
He informed the ambassador that Pakistan has offered 101 fully-funded training slots to the Nepali armed forces and annually awards 25 scholarships to Nepali students as part of its educational diplomacy and capacity-building efforts.
Gillani noted that the trade volume between the two countries reached $6.47 million during the fiscal year 2024-25 but stressed the need to expand commercial cooperation to unlock further potential.
Underscoring cultural connectivity, he proposed turning the historical Buddhist heritage link between Taxila (Pakistan) and Lumbini (Nepal) into a vibrant avenue for religious tourism. “Nepali citizens can benefit from Pakistan’s rich Buddhist heritage,” he added.
On climate change, both sides agreed that Pakistan and Nepal should adopt a joint strategy to mitigate the adverse impacts of environmental challenges facing the region.
Chairman Senate also expressed Pakistan’s desire to see the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) regain its momentum and functionality. He urged Nepal, currently holding the chair of SAARC, to play a proactive role in revitalizing the regional bloc.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Gillani extended warm wishes to Ambassador Rita Dhital and expressed hope for stronger and more dynamic bilateral engagement in the coming years.
