Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said Pakistan has joined Board of Peace to contribute to peace in Palestine.He was speaking at the joint sitting of Parliament in response to the remarks made by Raja Nasir Abbas, the Leader of the opposition in the Senate, and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.Defending the decision of joining Board of Peace, he said contributing to Gaza peace along with other fraternal countries is a diplomatic success for Pakistan.

He said this has provided us an opportunity to play a role for protection of rights of Palestinians and peace.The Minister for Planning emphasized that Pakistan's policy on Palestine remains unchanged. He said Pakistan considers Israel an aggressor whose hands are soaked in the blood of innocent Palestinian people. He said Pakistan supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders.

Ahsan Iqbal categorically stated there is no threat to the country's sovereignty and security. Alluding to the humiliating defeat inflicted on India by our armed forces in May conflict, last year, he said nobody can dare cast an evil against Pakistan.Meanwhile, the joint sitting of the parliament passed a resolution expressing grief and sorrow over the catastrophic fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi.

The resolution moved by Farooq Sattar extended heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dear ones and prayed for the recovery of those injured in the fire incident.Paying tributes to the fire fighters, the resolution demanded the Sindh government to ensure compensation to the bereaved families and immediate recovery of affected businesses.

It also demanded an increase in the number of firefighting stations in the provincial capital, calling upon the federal government to provide necessary support to the Sindh government in this regard.Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, the resolution demanded concrete actions so that no such incident occurs again. The Joint Sitting of the Parliament also passed three bills.

These included: National Commission for Human Rights Amendment Bill, 2025, Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025 and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2025. The Joint session has now been prorogued.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)