Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, has called for institutionalized cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the fields of parliamentary affairs, civil service training, legislative research, digital governance, public policy, and leadership development, emphasizing that the future of South Asia depends on constructive engagement, mutual respect, and stronger people-to-people connections.
He expressed these views while addressing the closing ceremony of the Executive Development Programme organized for the Bangladesh Civil Services Delegation by the Civil Services Academy and the National School of Public Policy.
Welcoming the distinguished delegation from Bangladesh, the Chairman Senate described the programme as a highly meaningful initiative aimed at reviving institutional linkages and promoting mutual understanding between the two brotherly countries after more than five decades. He stated that nations grow stronger when institutions, professionals, and people remain connected through dialogue, cooperation, and shared learning.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani appreciated the role of the Civil Services Academy and the National School of Public Policy in organizing the programme and providing a valuable platform for intellectual exchange and professional collaboration. He noted that such initiatives help build trust, strengthen regional understanding, and create new opportunities for long-term cooperation.
Referring to his recent interaction with the Bangladesh Civil Services Delegation during their visit to the Senate of Pakistan, the Chairman Senate said the engagement reflected warmth, sincerity, and a genuine desire on both sides to open a new and promising chapter in bilateral relations.
He also welcomed the positive sentiments conveyed by the Honourable Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament, particularly the proposal regarding the training of Bangladeshi parliamentary staff in Pakistan. He termed the proposal an encouraging step towards deeper parliamentary and institutional engagement between the two countries.
The Chairman Senate stressed that the time had come to institutionalize regular exchanges between Pakistan and Bangladesh in areas of mutual interest, including parliamentary cooperation, governance reforms, civil service modernization, policy research, and digital transformation. He said enhanced interaction between parliaments, training academies, universities, and policy institutions would contribute significantly towards regional stability and sustainable development.
Highlighting his responsibilities as President of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services and Founding Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting stronger institutional partnerships and knowledge-sharing mechanisms with Bangladesh.
The Chairman Senate observed that Pakistan and Bangladesh are connected through shared history, cultural affinity, faith, and enduring human bonds. He said there is increasing recognition on both sides that the future of the region must be shaped not by the burdens of the past but by the opportunities of the future.
He further remarked that strong nations are built through strong institutions, ethical leadership, and public trust. He underscored the central role of civil servants in ensuring continuity, implementation of policies, and preservation of institutional memory, stating that public servants ultimately translate national vision into public welfare.
Addressing the graduating officers, the Chairman Senate said they were not merely representatives of Bangladesh’s civil service but ambassadors of cooperation, understanding, friendship, and regional harmony.
He noted that in an increasingly polarized global environment, programmes such as the Executive Development Programme serve as bridges of trust, wisdom, and enduring friendship among nations.
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed confidence that the friendships formed and experiences shared during the programme would further strengthen bilateral ties and pave the way for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the years ahead.
The Chairman Senate concluded his address by conveying his best wishes for the continued progress, peace, and prosperity of both brotherly countries and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting meaningful engagement and lasting friendship with Bangladesh.
