ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday met Ethiopian Ambassador Dr. Jamal Beker Abdulla and discussed bilateral ties, trade, investment, environmental cooperation, and regional as well as global issues. As part of the meeting, Gilani, senators, and the ambassador planted a sapling in the Friendship Garden at Parliament House to mark the ongoing tree plantation campaign. Gilani said Pakistan and Ethiopia enjoyed historic ties and welcomed the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad and the start of direct Ethiopian Airlines flights between Karachi and Addis Ababa. He termed both steps as key milestones in expanding relations and stressed the early signing of an air services agreement to boost trade and investment. He thanked Ethiopia for supporting Pakistan’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council (2025–26) and noted that cooperation at regional and international forums had further deepened ties. Highlighting the role of parliamentary diplomacy, he pointed to the Pakistan–Ethiopia Parliamentary Friendship Group and called for stronger delegation exchanges and people-to-people contacts. DNA
