ISLAMABAD, SEP 3 /DNA/ – Ambassador Misbah Khar, Advisor to Chairman Senate, met with His Excellency Mr. Rongvudhi Virabutr, Ambassador of Thailand to Pakistan, at the Thai Embassy in Islamabad. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Tariq Bin Waheed, Sr. DG (Protocol), Senate of Pakistan.
During the meeting, Ambassador Misbah Khar briefed the Thai envoy on the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC), a newly established parliamentary forum designed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation among legislatures worldwide. She noted that the ISC currently comprises 45 Speakers of national parliaments, and that in recent elections held in Malaysia, Pakistan’s Chairman Senate, Mr. Yousuf Raza Gillani, was unanimously elected as the first President of the organization. She also extended a formal invitation to the Thai Speaker of Parliament to attend the upcoming ISC session, scheduled for November 11–12, 2025, in Islamabad, under the theme Peace, Security and Development.
The discussion also centered on the role of women in leadership and the importance of women’s empowerment. Ambassador Khar highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to promoting women in decision-making roles and emphasized that global platforms like the ISC can amplify women’s voices in parliamentary diplomacy. It was underlined that women should be encouraged to enter the workforce and become active contributors to society. Mr. Rongvudhi Virabutr expressed support for initiatives that enable women to come forward, and Ambassador Khar assured him of Pakistan’s complete support in this shared objective. She stressed that international platforms such as the ISC must be used to highlight the voices of women, particularly those facing suppression, and to provide them with sustainable opportunities and livelihoods. It was further highlighted that the Senate of Pakistan has also undertaken legislation to advance women’s empowerment and ensure their meaningful participation in national development.
The Thai Ambassador welcomed the initiative, affirming that he would seek to encourage greater efforts in advancing women’s leadership. Ambassador Khar assured him of her full support in these endeavors and reiterated her readiness to collaborate closely on initiatives that strengthen both parliamentary cooperation and gender equality.
