Karachi, 4 February 2026: The Provincial Assembly of Sindh is hosting an international parliamentary conference for the first time in 14 years. The 7th CPA Asia Regional Conference and the 2nd Joint CPA Asia & South-East Asia Regional Conference were inaugurated at the Assembly under the theme:
“Parliaments of the Future: Redefining Democracy through Trust, Inclusion, Innovation, and Peace.”
The conference brought together over 150 speakers, deputy speakers, parliamentarians, and senior officials from the parliaments of four countries in Asia and South-East Asia, as well as representatives from 17 state assemblies.
During the opening and plenary sessions, participants discussed a wide range of topics, including the strengthening of democratic institutions, parliamentary dialogue, public trust, transparency, inclusion, artificial intelligence, environmental challenges, and regional peace.
Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted Sindh’s historical, cultural, and democratic identity. He expressed concern over ongoing global conflicts, climate change, poverty, extremism, and the challenges posed by modern technology. He emphasized that dialogue, parliamentary cooperation, and the promotion of democratic values are essential for peace and development, and noted that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) serves as a vital platform for parliamentary engagement in the region.
Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah also highlighted Sindh’s rich history and culture, noting that the Indus River not only enriched the land but also facilitated connections with other civilizations. He referenced the archaeological sites of Mohenjo-daro and Makli, highlighting Sindh’s ancient civilization, cultural heritage, and long-standing tradition of peace. He further observed that Sindh is the land of Sufis, of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and of the world’s youngest female prime minister and the first female Muslim prime minister, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
CPA Chairperson, Hon. Dr. Christopher Kalila, emphasized that inclusion, innovation, transparency, and ethical leadership are fundamental pillars for the parliaments of the future, with particular focus on the meaningful representation of women, youth, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Senior Minister of Sindh, Sharjeel Inam Memon, addressed the conference, calling it an honor to speak at such a distinguished global forum. He highlighted the contemporary global challenges of political distrust, environmental crises, digital disruption, and weaknesses in democratic governance, and praised the timely organization of the conference under the leadership of Speaker Shah. He stressed that strong, transparent, inclusive, and modern parliaments are the foundation of resilient democracies, while dialogue, regional cooperation, and peace are essential for democratic stability.
Special Guest, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, described the gathering of Commonwealth parliamentary delegations at the Sindh Assembly as a testament to commitment toward democracy, parliamentary values, and international cooperation. He noted that the Sindh Assembly building stands as a witness to the historic moments of Pakistan’s creation and has always been a hub of democratic values, culture, and intellectual heritage. He also emphasized Sindh Assembly’s historic role in advancing women’s political representation in Pakistan and globally.
Following lunch, the plenary session titled “Parliament as a Mediator in Peace and Democratic Trust” was held.
Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis, Maldives, Ahmed Nazim, emphasized that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but depends on citizens’ trust in democratic institutions. He noted that transparent, accountable, and inclusive institutions form the foundation of sustainable peace, while the lack of public trust can foster social division, unrest, and authoritarianism—a pressing challenge for regions like South Asia. Citing the Maldives’ democratic transition in 2008, he highlighted the parliament’s key role in governance, oversight, and protection of fundamental rights, emphasizing parliaments as central forums for dialogue, consensus-building, and democratic resilience.
Deputy Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Dr. Mohamed Rizvi Saleh, shared his educational ties to Pakistan and expressed gratitude to the government and people. Drawing on his experience in public service, he emphasized that effective governance is essential for addressing citizens’ issues, and parliaments play a central role in fostering peace and democratic trust. He reflected on Sri Lanka’s severe economic and democratic crisis in 2022 and highlighted how parliamentary dialogue, consensus, transparency, and oversight restored public confidence, stressing that democratic trust is a continuous effort.
Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, emphasized that parliaments form the foundation of democracy, and public trust is directly linked to parliamentary conduct. He warned that violence, disorder, and unserious behavior in legislative bodies undermine democracy, particularly for marginalized groups. He called for parliaments to serve as centers of dialogue, reconciliation, and conflict resolution, highlighting the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and praised Sindh Assembly’s legislation protecting women while underscoring the importance of sustained regional and international parliamentary dialogue.
Speaker of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly, Dato’ Seri Amar D’raja Dr. Haji Muhammad Amar bin Abdullah, expressed his honor in attending the conference, praising Pakistan’s hospitality, the Sindh Assembly, and the CPA Asia Secretariat. He described the conference as a vital platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening parliamentary democracy and emphasized the importance of the speaker’s impartiality, fairness, and discipline in guiding purposeful parliamentary debates.
Speaker of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly, Dato’ Seri Haji Muhammad Sharkar bin Haji Shamsuddin, also expressed his gratitude for Pakistan’s hospitality and highlighted the importance of peace and democratic trust, stressing that parliaments are guardians of public confidence and forums for resolving differences through dialogue and voting. He noted CPA as an important platform for shared values and experience exchange.
Speaker of the Selangor Assembly, Lau Weng San, expressed delight at attending the conference, highlighting the role of trust, collaboration among political parties, transparent elections, and public inclusion. He cited Selangor Assembly’s live broadcasting of proceedings as an example of parliamentary transparency, and stressed the need for laws to combat misinformation in society.
Member of the UK House of Lords, Paul Yaw Boateng, emphasized that trust is the foundation of democracy, and that parliaments serve as central institutions for representation, accountability, and development. He noted that contemporary global challenges—including environmental crises, geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, fiscal constraints, and public distrust—underscore the importance of robust parliaments. He advocated for practical outcomes, transparent oversight, and citizen confidence, highlighting emerging technologies like AI and blockchain as tools to improve governance, public service, and participation, especially for youth and women.
Former Chairman Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, called the theme of the conference timely and significant, stressing that democratic institutions globally and regionally face challenges including political polarization, rapid technological change, environmental pressures, populism, and public distrust. He highlighted the importance of parliaments in dialogue and reconciliation, citing Pakistan’s experiences, including the 18th Constitutional Amendment, 7th NFC Award, parliamentary committees, transparency mechanisms, and public grievance systems, as exemplary for the region. He noted that inclusion of women, youth, and marginalized communities is essential for democratic peace and that reconciliation is a continuous democratic process.
Speaker of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati, also addressed the session.
Prior to the conference, the Sindh Assembly hosted a high-level meeting of CPA Asia Regional Branch Secretaries to finalize the draft concept note for the Asia Parliamentary Exchange Program, designed to enhance institutional education and democratic capacity among member branches. The meeting included parliamentary secretaries and senior legislative officials, with detailed discussions on executive oversight, constituency management, and legislative models. The program will include short 5–7 day study visits, providing practical education for legislators and translating shared democratic values into actionable measures. Participants reached consensus on program management, oversight, and impact assessment, coordinated by the CPA Asia Regional Secretariat, marking a significant step toward a strong, technology-enabled parliamentary network in Asia.
In addition, the CPA Asia Regional Executive Committee convened a key session at the Sindh Assembly in preparation for the 7th CPA Asia Regional Conference and the 2nd Joint CPA Asia & South-East Asia Regional Conference 2026.
The conference, hosted by the Sindh Assembly from 3–7 February 2026, continues with sessions featuring delegations from multiple countries sharing insights and best practices in parliamentary governance.
