Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Nepal. He was talking to newly appointed Ambassador of Nepal to Pakistan, Rita Dhital, in Islamabad today.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Chairman Senate said Pakistan attaches great importance to its fraternal relations with Nepal, which are deeply rooted in shared history, cultural ties, and mutual respect. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani emphasized that high-level exchanges play a vital role in deepening cooperation between the two countries and underscored the need to increase the frequency of such engagements.

The Chairman Senate congratulated Rita Dhital for her appointment as Ambassador to Pakistan and extended his best wishes for a successful diplomatic tenure in Pakistan. During the meeting, the Chairman Senate acknowledged that the current volume of trade between Pakistan and Nepal does not reflect the true potential and goodwill that exists between the two nations.

He expressed satisfaction over the increasing cooperation with Nepal in fields including the defence sector. Emphasizing the potential for religious tourism, the Chairman Senate noted the shared Buddhist heritage between Pakistan and Nepal. He called for transforming the historic links between Taxila and Lumbini into tangible tourism opportunities and extended an invitation to Nepali citizens to visit Pakistan for religious tourism.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s desire to see SAARC revitalized as an effective platform for regional cooperation in South Asia. He appreciated Nepal’s role as the current Chair and host of SAARC and expressed hope for the full resumption of its functions in the near future. On the occasion, the Nepalese Ambassador thanked the Chairman and agreed with his views.