Transcontinental parliamentary moot in Gwadar

As the democratic journey in Pakistan moves forward promisingly under a new democratic government and a pro-people parliament, the geo-political vicissitudes and fluidity of international relations coupled with domestic and regional security, peace and development imperatives offer both challenges and opportunities.

On the domestic front, inequities and disparities in socio-economic progress have set the developmental clock back for many areas. On the external front, the complexities of interconnected geo-political, strategic and bilateral issues are altering the whole continence of traditional diplomatic approaches. It is now the interplay between state institutions and a number of contributory factors that determine a state’s international identity, soundness of its bilateral relations, and its role and status in multilateral organisations.

This scenario has placed the institution of parliament right in the centre of the modern foreign relations chessboard. Parliamentary diplomacy is now a new force to reckon in ending diplomatic isolation of a country.

Sentient of these challenges, the political and administrative leadership of the Senate is defining contours of a progressive multifaceted socio-economic development and parliamentary diplomacy paradigm with a special focus on underdeveloped areas, and furthering our peace and prosperity agenda.

As administrative head of the Pakistan Senate, I am privileged to have been involved in the comprehensive reformation process that the Upper House has been going through so as to play a key role in addressing challenges faced by the country.

Our latest initiative is holding the meetings of APA’s Standing Committee on Political Affairs and Special Committee on Creation of Asia Parliament in Gwadar, Balochistan, from October 28^th to October 30^th, 2018, to be joined by parliamentary delegations from 23 Asian countries, Speaker of an African Parliament, a French Senator representing Europe, and the Secretary General of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU), this global gathering is a Senate-facilitated game changer to help give Pakistan a leadership role in geo-political affairs.

The credit for this diplomatic triumph goes to the Honourable Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani who decided to hold such an important international gathering in Gwadar, instead of the comfort zone of the federal or provincial capitals. This is in spirit of the APA Charter which calls for regional inclusivity. It is a big leap forward in the Senate’s bid to reach out to a federating unit as the House of Federation.

At the APA, the Pakistan Senate has assumed a leadership role by effectively highlighting our national standpoint and priorities in all its meetings, resolutions and communiqués.

A case in point is the resolution on “Harmonious Development through Democracy” being tabled by the Senate at the upcoming meeting to impress upon the member states that Pakistan believes in continuity of the democratic process in the region to usher in development.

Due to our effective strategy at the APA, India’s influence has paled into insignificance at this forum. While India had participated in the 2017 APA meetings, it has not yet confirmed its participation for the Gwadar meeting.

Conceptually speaking, the elected and administrative leadership of the Pakistan Senate had conceived three-pronged objectives behind organising this APA event in the port city. The first is to enhance linkages between the Senate and Balochistan to facilitate governmental efforts of unleashing the huge untapped potential of the province and Gwadar. Second, to bring the emerging economic hub and trade route into limelight. And, the third is to enable Asia and other regions’ friends and partners to witness peaceful situation and the investment and trade potential that Gwadar offers. This has also highlighted the Senate’s goodwill.

This event helps to dispel some misperceptions about the Senate Secretariat’s capabilities. The holding of this conference in Gwadar is a dream come true, made possible due to national synergy and collaboration between parliament, the federal and provincial governments as well as security and defence institutions.

We are grateful to the prime minister for giving a national and state ownership to these APA engagements by approving VVIP/ state guest status to the delegates, which makes possible comprehensive security arrangements.

We are also indebted to the governments of Sindh and Balochistan, especially the Chief Secretary Balochistan, besides local senators, and MPs, Local Administration, law-enforcement agencies, Army, Air Force, and especially the Navy and the Southern Command, for their support and cooperation.

The APA’s evolutionary process is marked by transformations. In 1999, the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace was formed in Dhaka. In 2003, Pakistan got its membership and held its meeting in Islamabad where it was decided to form the APA. But the final decision was taken in the 2006 meeting held in Tehran. After working smoothly, the APA due to political complications missed the annual assembly for two years.

This was the time when the Senate with a new strategic vision offered to host its annual plenary. The 6^th and 7^th plenaries of the APA were held in Pakistan, wherein it was also elected its president for two years. The 7^th plenary held in Lahore approved SCCAP following Pakistan’s proposal. For the last one year, Pakistan has held the position of the APA’s Vice-President, and there are strong chances of us regaining its presidency in 2019.

I also like to share a dream that has now come true. During my long career with civil and parliamentary service, I have seen the parliamentary evolution vis-à-vis executive’s developmental efforts. All along, I had wished for parliament to win the hearts and minds of the people by becoming a proactive socio-economic developmental catalyst on ground for the under privileged.

With this APA event, the Senate has taken the first stride towards cooperative development. However, we do not aim to transgress, but create an enabling environment for progress. Already, the Senate leadership’s efforts helped increase Gwadar’s internet bandwidth, and the Chairman Senate will soon inaugurate a fibre optic line there.

And lastly I cannot help sharing yet another dream of Asia regaining its lost glory. Throughout ages, our diverse history, our unique cultural variations, our rich literature, art and architecture have been a cause of envy and praise for the whole world. This glory was lost due to a host of factors.

Although the 21^st century is again witnessing the rise of the Asian continent in international affairs, we have a long way to go in bridging developmental gaps and inequities.

Establishing an Asian Parliament may appear a goal in the distant future, but integration on socio-economic and sustainable development front is now a compulsion considering our circumstances.

It is a real possibility that inter-parliamentary organisations and parliaments of Asian countries through the APA and cooperation of the IPU may help open new vistas of cooperation and development.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2018.

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