All set for Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Karachi

By Our Correspendent

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly is set to host the three-day 7th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia Regional Conference in the first week of February. Parliamentary delegations from the national and provincial legislatures of Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will take part in the event. Senior CPA officials, along with representatives from the United Kingdom, have also been invited to attend.

Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Syed Owais Qadir Shah, told a group of  journalists from national and interntional media that the gathering will be held as a joint event, combining the 7th CPA Asia Region Conference with the 2nd Joint CPA Asia and South-East Asia Regional Conference. He said the conference will run from February 4 to February 6, with the central theme titled “Parliaments of the Future: Redefining Democracy through Trust, Inclusion, Innovation and Peace.”

The Speaker said that 159 delegates are expected to attend, including 47 international participants. He added that participation of 13 Speakers and Presiding Officers has already been officially confirmed, while delegations from 14 parliaments across Asia and South-East Asia are anticipated. Hosting such a high-profile regional conference, he noted, would be a matter of pride not only for Sindh but for Pakistan as a whole.

In parallel, a high-level meeting was convened to assess and finalize security arrangements for the conference. Addressing the meeting, Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar directed the Inspector General of Police and the Additional IG to prepare a comprehensive and foolproof security plan. He instructed all police units and intelligence agencies, including the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Special Branch, to remain on full alert throughout the event.

The meeting decided that a central control room would be established at the Sindh Assembly to ensure round-the-clock monitoring, while police commandos would be deployed along all routes used by delegates. The session was attended by the Secretary Home Department, Secretary Law, IG Sindh, Additional IG Karachi, DIG Special Branch, Commandant SSU, CTD officials, senior

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an international organization that brings together parliamentarians and parliamentary institutions from across the Commonwealth. Established in 1911, the CPA works to promote democratic governance, good parliamentary practices, and cooperation among legislatures. Through regional conferences, workshops and exchanges, the association provides a platform for lawmakers to share experiences, strengthen parliamentary democracy, and address common political, social and governance challenges faced by member countries.