The delegation, comprising prominent senators including Senator Saleem Mandviwalla (Chief Whip of the Senate) and Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan (Chairman of the Standing Committee on Cabinet), visited Capitol Hill today. They held productive meetings with U.S. lawmakers to discuss establishing sustained parliamentary dialogue between the two nations.
In a significant development, Congressman Al Green accepted an invitation from the Pakistani side to form a Pakistan Strategic Bipartisan Caucus in the U.S. Congress, aimed at fostering deeper strategic cooperation.
Congressman Ron Estes emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary exchanges, stating that stronger people-to-people and legislative ties are essential for both countries. He accepted an invitation from Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan to visit Pakistan in the near future.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla highlighted that Pakistan-U.S. relations should extend beyond government-to-government levels to include robust parliamentary engagement, saying: “Relations between the two countries should not remain limited to official channels but must also thrive at the parliamentary level.”
The event at Capitol Hill featured exchanges of gifts and mementos symbolizing friendship. A representative from Congressman Tom Suozzi read out his message, noting that his family had migrated from Pakistan to India and expressing deep affection for Pakistan and its people.
The delegation is scheduled to visit the White House tomorrow, continuing a series of high-level engagements designed to promote legislative cooperation, regional stability, trade, security, and diaspora diplomacy.
Dr. Gholam Mujtaba, who played a key role in facilitating the visit, described it as a step toward highlighting Pakistan’s constructive role in global diplomacy and regional peace.
