Pakistan-Switzerland Friendship Group meets with Swiss delegation at Parliament House

ISLAMABAD, July 08 (SABAH): A meeting was held on Saturday between the Pakistan-Switzerland Friendship Group in the Parliament of Pakistan (with representation of both NA and the Senate) and a high-level Swiss delegation consisting of Mrs. Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, (Member of the Swiss Parliament), Christian Wasserfallen, (MP), Ms. Greta Ilaria Gysin, (MP). The meeting, held at Parliament House in Islamabad, served as a platform for fostering bilateral cooperation and strengthening parliamentary exchanges between the two nations.

The Pakistani side extended a warm welcome to the Swiss delegation, expressing their gratitude for the visit and highlighting the beauty of Pakistan, particularly Nathiagali, which the Swiss delegation had the opportunity to explore. Notably, the Swiss delegation acknowledged and commended the significant representation of women among the Pakistani attendees.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the need for enhanced parliamentary exchanges to deepen understanding and collaboration. The Pakistani representatives briefed the Swiss delegation on important initiatives such as the Parliamentary Caucus on child rights and Women Parliamentary Caucus. Various critical topics were discussed, including climate change, women empowerment, education, healthcare, Child labour and the IT sector.

Furthermore, the Pakistani side expressed their concerns regarding the recent incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden, underlining the principles of Islam as a religion of peace. Swiss delegates underlined that Switzerland has a diverse population and freedom of religion is a fundamental right in their country. The situation in Afghanistan was also deliberated upon, with the Pakistani side reaffirming their commitment to supporting girls’ education in the region. Additionally, human rights violations by Indian forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were highlighted, along with a detailed discussion on minority rights.

In the spirit of cultural exchange, the Swiss delegation was given a tour of the Parliament and briefed on the rich history of the Pakistani Parliament.

The Pakistani side was represented by Senator Pir Sabir Shah, Senator Prof. Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani, MNA, SAPM Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, MNA, Parliamentary Secretary on Law and Justice Ms. Mehnaz Akber Aziz, and MNA, Parliamentary Secretary on Communications Ms Shahida Akhter Ali.

Both sides expressed their commitment to strengthening the Pakistan-Switzerland friendship and exploring opportunities for mutual cooperation in various fields. This meeting served as a milestone in deepening the bonds between the two nations and promoting meaningful parliamentary exchanges.