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KARACHI, Feb 04 (APP):The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia Regional Executive Committee convened a high-level and strategically significant meeting at the Sindh Assembly, reaffirming Pakistan’s central leadership role in regional parliamentary cooperation. The meeting was jointly presided over by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Awais Qadir Shah here at Sindh Assembly building on Wednesday.
To finalize preparations for the 7th CPA Asia Regional Conference and the 2nd Joint CPA Asia and Southeast Asia Regional Conference, the meeting brought together speakers, deputy speakers, and senior parliamentary leadership from Pakistan and across Asia, underscoring the growing institutional strength and unity of the CPA Asia region.
The session was attended by Chairman of the CPA Executive Committee Dr. Christopher Kalila, while Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, as head of the CPA delegation, played a leading and coordinating role in the proceedings. Syed Naveed Qamar, Member of the National Assembly and CPA Executive Committee member, and CPA Asia Special Secretary Shamoon Ashraf Hashmi were also present.
Prominent domestic participation included Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, along with representatives from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan Assemblies, reflecting strong inter-provincial parliamentary engagement. International participation featured speakers, deputy speakers, and parliamentary representatives from Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Malaysia, highlighting robust regional collaboration.
A key agenda item was the formal congratulation of the Maldives Parliament (People’s Majlis) on assuming the Chairmanship of the CPA Asia Region, symbolizing continuity and stability in regional parliamentary leadership.
The committee also approved the minutes of the previous Executive Committee meeting held in Barbados in 2025.
The meeting conducted an in-depth review of the programs and policy framework of the upcoming regional conferences and examined the draft Karachi Declaration, alongside concrete measures aimed at strengthening parliamentary institutions, democratic norms, and regional governance mechanisms.
Further deliberations focused on the establishment of a dedicated CPA Asia website, enhanced institutional coordination, and the launch of annual capacity-building workshops for provincial and state assemblies. The committee also discussed the operationalization of the CPA Asia Regional Fund and granted final approval to the activity calendar for 2026–27.
Strategic decisions were taken regarding the hosting of future regional conferences, the CWP Asia Seminar, and the scheduling of the next Executive Committee meeting.
The agenda further included the launch of the “CPA Asia Democracy Award” and the introduction of a short-term parliamentary exchange program, aimed at promoting legislative best practices and democratic excellence across the region.
The meeting also emphasized the integration of Southeast Asia’s parliamentary priorities into the annual regional conference agenda, reinforcing CPA Asia’s commitment to inclusive, representative, and forward-looking parliamentary diplomacy.