The High Commissioner of Australia to Pakistan, H.E. Timothy Kane, called on Chairman Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani today at Parliament House.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Australia enjoys tremendous goodwill in Pakistan, highlighting that the vibrant Pakistani diaspora serves as a strong bridge between the two nations. He appreciated Australia’s longstanding support in education sector, where approximately 20,000 Pakistani students are currently pursuing higher studies in Australian universities. He added that these students will play an important role in Pakistan’s development and prosperity.
Underscoring shared interests, Chairman Senate stated that Pakistan and Australia are connected through many bonds, including a mutual passion for cricket. He expressed confidence that the High Commissioner’s tenure would further enhance cooperation in diverse fields, particularly trade and investment.
Chairman Senate noted that the current bilateral trade volume does not reflect the real potential of the two countries and emphasized the need to intensify efforts to strengthen economic engagement. He appreciated Australia’s support in agriculture sector, including 13 ongoing projects and research partnerships, and expressed the hope that these initiatives would translate into technology transfer, improved market access, and tangible benefits for Pakistan’s farming community. The Chairman Senate also acknowledged the productive visit of Pakistan’s agro-trade delegation to Australia in June 2025 and welcomed Australia’s support for the proposed biosecurity and capacity building visit scheduled for early 2026.
Stressing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, Chairman Senate called for strengthened inter-parliamentary linkages, particularly frequent exchange of visits and interaction at Parliamentary Friendship Groups level. He added that high-level contacts remain essential for advancing bilateral relations, noting the recent meeting between the Foreign Ministers of both countries on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in July 2025. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed desire to work together and share best practices in the field of agriculture and farming. He also informed the High Commissioner about the recent ISC in Islamabad.
The chairman also recalled his visit to Australia as Speaker of National Assembly and as Prime Minister of Pakistan. He termed his visits important and productive ones.
Chairman Senate Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Australia and expressed his best wishes to High Commissioner Timothy Kane for a successful tenure in Pakistan.
The Chairman Senate also extended congratulations and conveyed best wishes to the Prime Minister of Australia on his wedding.
The Australian High Commissioner thanked Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for his candid views about Pakistan- Australia relationship. He said that both countries enjoy long and deep relationship. He offered his heartfelt condolence on the losses in different areas of South Punjab during floods. He observed that climate change is having bad impact on Pakistan.
Advisor to Chairman Senate and ambassador to Inter-Parliamentary Speaker Conference, Misbah Khar and senior Director General Protocol Tariq Bin Waheed were also present during the meeting.
