Islamabad (Izhar Khan Niazi): Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has said that Pakistan is committed to further strengthening and expanding its longstanding friendship with Canada through parliamentary diplomacy and the promotion of trade, investment and people-to-people contacts.

Addressing a reception held in honor of Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand as the chief guest, the Senate Chairman welcomed Anita Anand on her first official visit to Pakistan and conveyed best wishes on behalf of the Senate, Parliament and the people of Pakistan.

He said that relations between Pakistan and Canada, spanning nearly eight decades, were based on mutual respect, shared interests, constructive political dialogue, economic cooperation, educational exchanges and the valuable contributions of the Pakistani community living in Canada.

He said that Canada was among Pakistan’s trusted economic partners and that bilateral trade was an important pillar of relations between the two countries. Agricultural commodities imported from Canada, particularly canola, soybeans and chickpeas, were playing an important role in Pakistan’s food security, agricultural sector and industrial development.

Referring to the talks held in Ottawa between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, he described them as positive and said they had further promoted economic and trade cooperation. He added that the arrival of the first consignment of Canadian canola at Karachi Port on January 12, 2026, was an important symbol of bilateral economic cooperation.

The Chairman Senate said that in the prevailing global circumstances, the importance of parliamentary diplomacy had increased more than ever, and parliaments could play a key role in promoting dialogue, confidence-building, peace and sustainable development.

As the founding Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC), he invited Canada to actively participate in the forum and said that parliamentary relations would help further strengthen ties between the two countries and contribute to addressing common global challenges.

He highlighted extensive opportunities for cooperation in energy, clean technology, mining, information technology, textiles, investment, artificial intelligence and innovation. He said that Canada’s advanced technological expertise and Pakistan’s young workforce, strategic location and large market offered numerous opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Later, the Chairman Senate also met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and her delegation at Parliament House. On the occasion, he said that high-level contacts were evidence of positive progress in relations between the two countries and stressed the need to further expand cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, energy, education, agriculture, climate change, critical minerals, information technology and people-to-people contacts.

The Chairman Senate recalled that Canada was among the first countries to recognize Pakistan in 1947, while the two countries also celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2022. Referring to his meeting with former Canadian minister Jason Kenney during his tenure as Prime Minister, he said that political, economic, parliamentary and cultural relations between the two countries were continuously strengthening.

He also emphasized the need to make contacts between parliamentary friendship groups more effective and enhance cooperation at the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and other international forums.

He appreciated Canada’s support for strengthening democratic institutions in Pakistan and stressed the need for joint efforts to address common challenges, including global peace, the elimination of terrorism, climate change and sustainable development.

Regarding economic cooperation, the Chairman Senate encouraged Canadian investment in the fields of mining, clean energy, agribusiness, information technology and critical minerals under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). He also welcomed the ongoing negotiations on the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).

He appreciated Canada’s cooperation in health, education, medical research, agricultural innovation, climate-smart agriculture, higher education and scientific research, and called for further collaboration in these areas.

Describing the Pakistani community in Canada as a strong bridge between the two countries, he emphasized the need to expand educational scholarships, cultural exchanges, tourism and linkages between universities, research institutions and think tanks.

The Chairman Senate reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Welcoming diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East, he said that the path to lasting peace was possible only through dialogue, confidence-building and diplomacy.

He expressed the hope that Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s visit to Pakistan would mark the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the two countries and create new opportunities for peace, prosperity and sustainable development for the people of both countries through the promotion of trade, investment, parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people contacts.