Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Syed Awais Qadir Shah addresses CPA General Assembly in Cape Town
Karachi, 17 September 2026: Speaker Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah addressed the CPA General Assembly during the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, and highlighted the importance of democratic institutions, parliamentary cooperation, climate justice and responsible use of emerging technologies.
Addressing Speakers, Presiding Officers, parliamentarians and delegates from across the Commonwealth, the Speaker said the changing global order had placed international law and parliamentary democracy at an important juncture, requiring stronger institutions, greater cooperation and meaningful parliamentary dialogue.
Referring to South Africa’s history, Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah said its journey demonstrated that societies facing deep divisions could move towards peace, reconciliation and prosperity through empathy, dialogue and hope. He said these values also represented the promise of parliamentary democracy.
The Speaker said his belief in democracy was deeply rooted in the political legacy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, whose vision of democracy, reconciliation, inclusion and respect for democratic institutions continued to inspire generations. He recalled that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto made history as the first woman elected to lead a government in a Muslim-majority country. Referring to her historic address to the United States Congress, he highlighted the words “We the People”, describing them as a profound expression of the democratic principle that the ultimate source of political authority is the people themselves.
Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah said this belief continued to guide him and emphasised that dialogue, reconciliation and engagement were hallmarks of mature democratic societies.
Recalling the 7th CPA Asia Regional Conference and the 2nd Joint CPA Asia and South-East Asia Regional Conference hosted by the Provincial Assembly of Sindh in Karachi earlier this year, the Speaker said the participation of more than 150 parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from across Asia and South-East Asia had provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen parliamentary cooperation. He said the Karachi Declaration, centred on trust, inclusion, innovation and peace, underscored the importance of accountable parliaments, meaningful participation of women, youth, minorities and persons with disabilities, responsible use of technology and parliamentary dialogue for peace and stability.
Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah said the strength of the Commonwealth lay in learning from one another and drawing strength from the diversity of parliamentary experiences. He said Pakistan remained committed to peaceful coexistence, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Highlighting the challenge of climate change, the Speaker said the devastating floods of 2022 affected 33 million people across Pakistan, with Sindh bearing nearly 70 percent of the country’s total damage and economic losses. He stressed that climate justice for vulnerable countries must translate into tangible support and greater resilience for affected communities. He also highlighted Sindh’s efforts in building more than 200,000 climate-resilient homes and providing cash grants to hundreds of thousands of women, enabling them to open their first bank accounts.
Speaking about Artificial Intelligence, the Speaker stressed that parliaments could not remain spectators as technology advanced rapidly. He called for stronger parliamentary oversight and responsible regulation of AI to ensure that technological development remained aligned with public interest, safety and accountability.
The Speaker highlighted various legislative measures undertaken in Sindh, including legislation concerning domestic violence, the rights of home-based workers and the minimum marriage age of 18 for both girls and boys, along with strengthened parliamentary oversight mechanisms. He said legislation was only the beginning and that its ultimate significance lay in whether it improved the lives of ordinary people.
Syed Awais Qadir Shah called for stronger democratic institutions across the Commonwealth and emphasised the need for parliaments to listen, learn and cooperate. He stressed that international law should remain a framework for peace rather than a principle applied selectively, while democratic institutions must remain accountable to the people.
The CPA General Assembly was held as part of the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which is being hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and the South Africa Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in Cape Town from 13 to 19 September 2026.
