Islamabad, Feb 12: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong, fraternal ties with Yemen, underscoring the shared cultural, historical, and religious connections between the two nations. This sentiment was expressed during a meeting with the Ambassador of Yemen, Mohammed Motahar Alashabi, in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The discussion covered a wide array of topics, with a focus on enhancing bilateral relations, regional stability, and economic cooperation. Chairman Gilani emphasized Pakistan’s continued support for Yemen’s peace and stability efforts and expressed readiness to assist Yemen in areas such as climate change, information technology, agriculture, and defense, where Pakistan possesses valuable expertise.
Additionally, Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Yemen’s development through scholarships, capacity-building programs, and professional training for Yemeni students and officials. He also highlighted Pakistan’s role in the region, noting its strategic significance as a nuclear power and its close ties with China and Turkiye.
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Addressing the issue of Afghan refugees, Gilani pointed out Pakistan’s ongoing efforts in hosting thousands of Afghan refugees and called on the international community to take a more active role in resolving this challenge.
The Yemeni Ambassador acknowledged the importance of the relationship between the two countries and expressed a desire for enhanced cooperation in capacity building, scholarships, and international collaboration. The meeting also delved into Pakistan’s strong backing for a peaceful resolution of the Yemen conflict, in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions.
Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for key peace initiatives, such as the Riyadh Agreement of December 2019, and highlighted Pakistan’s active role in the OIC Contact Group on Yemen. He also proposed expanding trade relations and exploring investment opportunities between the two nations, pointing out that Pakistan’s institutions, including NADRA and private sector companies, could play a vital role in Yemen’s post-conflict reconstruction, particularly in IT and construction.
Furthermore, Gilani discussed the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which aims to streamline investment in sectors like IT, agriculture, and mining, offering a one-window operation for investors.
In closing, Chairman Gilani emphasized the importance of high-level exchanges and the creation of a Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Senate to further strengthen people-to-people and inter-parliamentary ties. He extended an invitation to Yemen’s parliamentary and ministerial leadership to visit Pakistan and to Ambassador Alashabi to visit Multan to engage with the business community and explore economic cooperation opportunities.
