By Asghar Ali Mubarak
Preparations for the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC) in Islamabad have been finalized. Parliamentary leaders from more than 40 countries are expected to participate. The Chairman of the Senate is personally overseeing all arrangements and administrative matters to ensure smooth execution.
The conference, scheduled for 11–12 November 2025, aims to reinforce global commitment to peace, security, and development—thematic priorities that reflect both Pakistan’s parliamentary vision and the needs of the contemporary world.
Pakistan’s Diplomacy and Global Role
According to Senate Media Advisor Mian Khurram Rasool, Pakistan has emerged as a leading voice in advancing global parliamentary cooperation. It plays an active role in guiding legislative discussions on:
Sustainable development
Environmental security
Equitable resource distribution
Regional and global peace
Islamabad has become a hub of parliamentary diplomacy, fostering stronger bilateral and multilateral relations. These activities enhance:
Diplomatic engagement
Cultural exchange
Trade and investment
Regional harmony and security
Together, these efforts demonstrate Pakistan’s resolve to support international collaboration, bridge political divides, and promote collective prosperity.
Significance of the Conference
The ISC is aligned with the principle that peace, stability, and development are interconnected global objectives. By cultivating structured dialogue among international parliamentary leaders, the conference seeks to:
Encourage cooperative policy development
Address transnational security challenges
Promote equitable socio-economic progress
Strengthen institutional capacity
The Islamabad conference aims to build long-term partnerships, legislative cooperation frameworks, and international dialogue mechanisms to counter urgent global challenges.
Establishment of the ISC
The ISC was formally founded in April 2025 in Seoul, South Korea, under the leadership of its Founding Chairman, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan.
The initiative responds to a critical gap: although parliaments are central to democratic governance and policy formulation, they often lack effective platforms for transnational cooperation. Global crises—from conflict and terrorism to inequality—have highlighted the need for coordinated legislative responses.
The ISC aims to:
Enhance parliamentary cooperation
Catalyze consensus on global issues
Promote shared values of interdependence and peace
Goals and Areas of Focus
The conference will deliberate on how parliaments can strengthen legislative governance in response to global threats. Key guiding questions include:
What are the most urgent peace, security, and development challenges today?
How can parliaments leverage legislation and coordination to reduce threats and inequality?
What role can parliamentary diplomacy play in protecting human rights and mitigating geopolitical tensions?
These discussions will help define new strategies for parliamentarians to operate effectively in an increasingly complex global environment.
Expected Outcomes
Delegates are expected to:
Exchange best practices
Propose improved frameworks for oversight and representation
Strengthen ethical governance
Encourage legislative tools to reduce inequality
Build cooperation-driven responses to emerging threats
The conference will adopt the Islamabad Declaration, building on the Seoul Declaration, outlining shared commitments to peacebuilding, inclusive development, and democratic governance. It will also announce future cooperation mechanisms and joint legislative initiatives in coordination with the United Nations and development agencies.
Pakistan’s Leadership and Advocacy
The ISC’s establishment was widely celebrated at its founding session in Seoul in April 2025, where senior parliamentary leaders expressed their collective commitment to democratic values and development.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani’s unanimous election as Founding Chairman highlights Pakistan’s global parliamentary standing. In his remarks, he described the ISC as:
“NOT MERELY A GATHERING OF LEADERS, BUT A TESTAMENT TO OUR SHARED DESIRE TO ELEVATE HUMAN DIGNITY AND CHART A PATH OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT.”
He emphasized that Pakistan’s diplomatic approach—rooted in cooperation, mutual respect, and peaceful dialogue—remains central to resolving global challenges.
Statements by National Leadership
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Praised Pakistan’s parliamentary diplomacy as a global success
Stresssed that peace, mutual cooperation, and dialogue are fundamental to Pakistan’s foreign policy
Highlighted partnerships such as the collaboration with Korea Water Resources Corporation in support of environmental initiatives
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq
Speaking at the curtain-raiser event, he stated:
Parliaments embody public trust and aspirations
Parliamentary diplomacy is now central to building international consensus
Pakistan’s bicameral parliament actively champions democratic governance at the global level
Ayaz Sadiq reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for:
Peaceful resolution of conflicts
International law
Human rights
The principled resolutions of Palestine and Jammu & Kashmir
Special Envoy Remarks: Misbah Khar
Special Envoy for ISC, Misbah Khar, emphasized that Pakistan is at the forefront of shaping global legislative partnerships. She highlighted that 45 countries have joined ISC to address multidimensional threats including:
Hybrid warfare
Environmental instability
Economic fragmentation
Information distortion
She referenced the guiding philosophy of the ISC—rooted in the unity of mankind:
“WHEN VIEWED FROM SPACE, THERE ARE NO BORDERS—ONLY A SINGLE HUMAN FAMILY. THIS IS THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE ISC.”
Related Initiatives: Trilateral Speakers Conference
In October 2025, Islamabad also hosted the Trilateral Speakers Conference involving Pakistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan.
Key themes included:
Regional peace
Economic cooperation
Climate action
Parliamentary diplomacy
Speakers condemned global injustices, including the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, and called for global accountability.
Ayaz Sadiq proposed trilateral parliamentary roundtables on climate, security, and regional integration—reflecting Pakistan’s commitment to shared responsibility.
Conclusion
The Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference 2025 represents a defining moment in global parliamentary diplomacy. Its agenda—anchored in peace, security, and development—underscores the belief that global challenges demand collective legislative resolve.
By hosting this forum, Pakistan:
Reinforces its commitment to international cooperation
Contributes to peace and sustainable growth
Strengthens its diplomatic stature
As the Islamabad Declaration is adopted, the ISC will enter a new phase of coordinated global engagement—one shaped by dialogue, equality, and mutual prosperity.
