ISLAMABAD, Oct 07 (APP): Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, during his meeting with Mussa Azzan Zungu, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, on the sidelines of the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Arusha on Wednesday, proposed concrete measures to strengthen Pakistan–Tanzania relations, with a focus on diplomatic presence, trade, technology and parliamentary cooperation.
The Chairman of the Senate called for the establishment of a resident Tanzanian diplomatic mission in Islamabad, noting that a permanent diplomatic presence would strengthen bilateral engagement while facilitating visas, business travel, tourism and greater people-to-people interaction.
He also stressed the need to substantially enhance bilateral trade and investment, including stronger linkages between the ports, business communities and chambers of commerce of the two countries.
He highlighted the potential for cooperation in information technology, digital innovation, agriculture, education and skills development, and encouraged greater private-sector engagement to translate the goodwill between Pakistan and Tanzania into tangible economic cooperation.
As another concrete step, the Chairman Senate called for the activation and strengthening of Parliamentary Friendship Groups in both countries, with regular parliamentary exchanges and closer institutional cooperation between the Senate of Pakistan and the National Assembly of Tanzania.
The Chairman of the Senate also welcomed greater cooperation in education, including scholarships and academic exchanges for Tanzanian students, and emphasised the importance of building stronger links between the youth and educational institutions of the two countries.
He congratulated Mussa Azzan Zungu, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, on the successful hosting of the 153rd IPU Assembly in Arusha, and appreciated Tanzania’s role in bringing parliamentarians from across the world together to advance dialogue, parliamentary diplomacy and international cooperation.
The Chairman of the Senate said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Tanzania and the wider African continent, and stressed that the next phase of Pakistan–Tanzania relations should be driven by trade, technology, parliamentary diplomacy and stronger people-to-people connectivity.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
