Pakistan, the Philippines agree to continue parliamentary relations

MANILA: Pakistan and the Philippines have agreed to further promote bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, including agriculture, people-to-people contacts, tourism and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

A delegation of the Senate of Pakistan, led by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir and Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, visited the Philippines.

President of the Senate of the Philippines, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, along with Senator Robin Padilla, welcomed the delegation of the Senate of Pakistan at the Senate of the Philippines. On the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Asma Rabbani, was also accompanying the delegation. The delegation also included other distinguished personalities, including Chairman of the Pakistan Council, Muhammad Aslam.

The Pakistani delegation had arrived in Manila to participate in the first Intergovernmental Fiscal Institutions (IGFIN) meeting organized under the auspices of the Forum of Federations.

During the meeting, concern was expressed over the unregulated and irresponsible use of social media among the youth, and the effective role of parliaments in dealing with this issue was discussed. The President of the Senate of the Philippines also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and mediatory role in the context of tensions between the United States and Iran. He said that tensions in the region have profound effects on global oil prices and energy supplies, particularly on countries like the Philippines, which meet most of their oil requirements from the Middle East.

Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir congratulated the Philippines on assuming the chairmanship of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) this year. He said that Pakistan, as ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner, wishes to actively participate in the organization’s important meetings.

Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir also invited the delegation of the Senate of the Philippines to visit Pakistan in February or March next year. The Philippine authorities [and] the President of the Senate took the Pakistani delegation on a visit to the Senate Session Hall.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026