Pakistan marked a significant achievement on Thursday by officially launching its national engagement with the Global Development Initiative (GDI), becoming the first country to institutionalize it within its parliament. The event, titled “Global Development Initiative in Pakistan: A Parliamentary Roadmap for Shared Prosperity,” brought together a broad range of participants including lawmakers, diplomats, scholars, youth leaders, and civil society members to mark the beginning of this transformative cooperation framework.
In her keynote address, Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, emphasized that Pakistan sees the GDI not merely as an international vision but as a core part of its national development agenda rooted in equity, citizen participation, and democratic principles.
She stressed that this launch was more than symbolic—it was the realization of a long-held vision she championed as a legislator and advocate for development and parliamentary diplomacy between Pakistan and China. For Pakistan, she said, GDI is not an external concept but a familiar and actionable framework urgently needed.
Referencing President Xi Jinping’s 2021 address at the UN General Assembly, Alam highlighted the idea that development should be a universal right, not a privilege. This concept, she noted, resonated strongly across the Global South, especially in nations like Pakistan that face development challenges while nurturing democratic ideals.
As head of the Pakistan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, Alam said the roadmap was crafted through wide consultations with youth leaders, civil society organizations, policy experts, and lawmakers. The collective feedback emphasized that parliamentary anchoring is crucial for the success of GDI in Pakistan, where national policies are shaped and accountability ensured.
The newly launched program integrates the GDI into five strategic pillars: incorporating GDI into legislation through policy dialogues; public awareness campaigns; engaging youth and academics through GDI university hubs; framing GDI as a human security framework; and boosting parliamentary ties with China’s National People’s Congress.
The event also celebrated 75 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. Alam hailed the bilateral partnership as a model of Global South solidarity, highlighting milestone projects like CPEC and the solar-powered Parliament building as concrete signs of China’s support in uplifting Pakistan’s institutions.
She stated that this partnership is now evolving, from building physical infrastructure to fostering inclusive ideas and institutional growth. The GDI, she noted, represents the next phase focused on inclusion, sustainability, and long-term institutional empowerment.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, serving as Chief Guest, praised Alam’s leadership in bringing the GDI parliamentary initiative to life. He stressed that parliaments are active agents in development, helping shape policy and public engagement through such programs.
The Minister also underscored Gwadar Port’s importance under CPEC and noted how the GDI could further enhance regional connectivity, development of coastal communities, and economic integration.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Jiang Zaidong, commended Pakistan’s Parliament for being the first globally to institutionalize the GDI through a formal legislative group. He reaffirmed China’s dedication to the Global South and noted that over 100 countries and 20 international organizations have joined the GDI.
He highlighted that China has supported over 1,100 GDI-linked projects globally, including 600 active ones, backed by funding through mechanisms like the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.
Ambassador Jiang said Pakistan’s GDI Parliamentary Group offers a model for other developing nations, contributing to new global momentum for international collaboration and sustainable development.
The event concluded with the formal launch of Pakistan-China Parliamentary Development Cooperation, institutionalizing ties between Pakistan’s National Assembly and China’s NPC.
All participants stressed that the GDI Curtain Raiser was not a mere ceremonial gesture but the start of a transformative phase in Pakistan-China relations and global development leadership by the Global South.
Alam concluded by affirming that Pakistan had not only endorsed GDI but had fully embraced it as a democratic and developmental vision embedded in its national fabric.
The event was jointly organized by Sustainability First—a major policy engagement platform—and the Chinese Embassy, in partnership with the Pakistan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group. Their collaboration ensured the event’s success and brought together a wide range of voices from government, academia, and civil society.
Related Posts
