“Peace, security and development are inseparable pillars of progress,” Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani emphasized while delivering his address at the inaugural session of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference. “Without peace and security, no nation can build; and without development, peace remains fragile" he remarked.
The landmark Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference in formally started in Islamabad today, which brought together parliamentary leaders from across the world under the theme “Peace, Security and Development.”
Welcoming the delegates on behalf of the Parliament and the people of Pakistan, the Chairman Senate said he was privileged to host this historic gathering in the nation’s capital. He expressed profound gratitude to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for gracing the event as Chief Guest, terming his presence a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and multilateralism.
Chairman Gilani described the conference as a defining moment in the evolution of parliamentary diplomacy, uniting parliaments from both the Global North and the Global South under one roof to deliberate on shared challenges and collective solutions.
Highlighting the contemporary global context, he noted that the world today faces unprecedented instability driven by wars, economic shocks, climate change, and rapid technological disruptions. “Peace is unravelling before us — from Gaza to Sudan to Occupied Kashmir,” he said, adding that in such testing times, parliaments must serve as guiding lights, promoting understanding and cooperation across divides.
He underscored the need for a broader and inclusive understanding of security that encompasses economic and climate resilience, environmental sustainability, food and water security, and digital integrity. Citing Pakistan’s negligible contribution to global emissions yet disproportionate vulnerability to climate change, he termed it “a moral and practical imperative” for parliaments to act collectively before the cost becomes unbearable.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s enduring commitment to global peace and security under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the Chairman recalled Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and its significant participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
He noted that despite provocations on Pakistan’s eastern and north-western borders, the country had demonstrated maturity and restraint. “We have consistently extended the hand of dialogue, for peace is a two-way street that requires reciprocity,” he said.
Chairman Gilani said that decades of parliamentary experience had strengthened his belief that sustainable progress and security are interdependent, and that this understanding had inspired him to convene the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference to promote shared dialogue on pressing global issues.
He emphasized that parliaments are not bystanders in the pursuit of peace and prosperity but “drivers of trust, builders of consensus, and voices of the people when the world grows uncertain.”
Calling for practical outcomes from the conference, he urged delegates to move beyond promises and share bold, implementable solutions that reflect the diverse experiences of participating nations.
Concluding his address, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani quoted Pakistan’s first woman Prime Minister, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto: “Leadership is about the strength of one’s convictions, the ability to endure the punches, and the energy to promote an idea.”
He said, “Let this gathering be remembered for the conviction it inspires, the partnerships it forges, and the clarity of purpose it establishes. The world is watching — let us lead with unity, vision, and courage.”
The Chairman Senate extended his best wishes to all delegates for a productive conference and a pleasant stay in Islamabad.
