C’wealth delegates start returning home

By Our Correspondent
February 12, 2025
Group photo of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq (center 1st row), Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan (4th right in 1st row) along with the main participants of the conference, international speakers and general secretaries for the first Asia and Southeast Asia Regional CPA Conference at the Punjab Assembly on February 7, 2025. — APP
Group photo of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq (center 1st row), Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan (4th right in 1st row) along with the main participants of the conference, international speakers and general secretaries for the first Asia and Southeast Asia Regional CPA Conference at the Punjab Assembly on February 7, 2025. — APP

LAHORE:The international delegations have started returning back to their respective countries after the conclusion of first Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia and Southeast Asia Regional Conference, held at the Punjab Assembly.

The historic conference witnessed the participation of over 100 parliamentarians from more than 20 legislative assemblies. During the conference, the "Charter of Lahore" was approved, emphasising good governance, equal rights, and sustainable development as key areas of regional cooperation.

CPA Executive Committee Chairperson Dr Christopher Klela; Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne; Deputy Minister of Sri Lanka Mohamed Malafar Munir; Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons Nusrat Ghani; and delegates from Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and other nations attended the conference.

Before departing, Nusrat Ghani commended Pakistan's commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and democratic values, emphasising that the CPA Conference demonstrated the strengthening of Pakistan’s democratic institutions.