Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal today announced during a joint sitting of Parliament that Pakistan has joined the Board of Peace to contribute towards a peaceful resolution in Palestine, a move he defended as a significant diplomatic achievement.
Addressing remarks from Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the minister described the decision as a success that provides an opportunity for the nation to advocate for the protection of Palestinian rights.
Mr Iqbal emphasised that Pakistan”s fundamental policy on Palestine remains unaltered. He reiterated the government”s position, describing Israel as an aggressor “whose hands are soaked in the blood of innocent Palestinian people.”
The minister affirmed that Pakistan continues to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.
He also categorically stated that the country”s sovereignty and security face no threat, alluding to what he termed the “humiliating defeat inflicted on India by our armed forces in May conflict, last year.”
In other parliamentary proceedings, the joint session passed a resolution expressing profound grief over the catastrophic fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi.
The motion, moved by Farooq Sattar, extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
Paying tribute to the firefighters, the resolution urged the Sindh government to ensure compensation is provided to the bereaved families and that affected businesses receive support for immediate recovery.
The measure also called for an increase in the number of firefighting stations in the provincial capital and requested that the federal government provide necessary assistance to the Sindh government to achieve this.
Furthermore, the joint sitting of Parliament successfully passed three pieces of legislation: the National Commission for Human Rights Amendment Bill, 2025, the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025.