ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: Asian countries are urged to develop energy integration system in Asia and take concrete measures to do away with the challenges of poverty for achieving sustainable growth, stated participants at a two-day meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic and Sustainable Development of Asian Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening session of two-day meeting of the committee, Dr Ali Khorram, Deputy to Asian Parliamentary Assembly Secretary-General, highlighted the five main issues and stated that those were now in front of the Assembly to resolve. Those issues he stated included; (i) how to develop energy integration system in Asia;(ii) the environmental impact of energy consumption now and when Asia becomes the main consumer of energy in the world; (iii) eradication of poverty including food security, sustainable economic growth and; (iv) role of APA Parliaments to adopt legislation in supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As chief guest Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the delegates from various Asian countries (19 countries) and expressed the hope that the forum would come up with some concrete suggestions for the well being, prosperity and future of millions living in Asia.

He said that Asian countries needed building of synergies and forging partnerships to deliver effectively as per the ideals of Asian Century. He added that regional parliamentary forums such as Asian Parliamentary Assembly could play a very important role on critical issues of energy, food security, human rights, women empowerment, water and sanitation, growth and environment, which were common to the most of the Asia. He said Pakistan was a responsible nuclear state and maintained highest standard of nuclear safety and security.

Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani stated that the future of Asia lied in the hands of the Asian people. He said criticism of West that Asian integration was not possible due to cultural, religious and social diversity was not true. "We believe that the strength of Asia is its diversity and with diversity comes the unity," he added.

He lamented the double standards of United States (US) and Western powers and stated that the ongoing upheaval and turmoil in Middle East was due to their policy of regime change. He said that being a Pakistani he witnessed the double standards of the West as they politically and economically supported the dictatorial regimes in Pakistan and remained silent over the unlawful prosecution of political workers.

Rabbani regretted the silence of Human Rights' (HR) champion Western countries over the blatant violation of human rights in Palestine and Indian Occupied Kashmir. "These are the issues that are needed to be resolved in order to achieve equitable development and peace in the region," he said, adding it was imperative for Asian countries to look at things in the right dimension. He urged the member countries to move forward for achieving the goal of Asian Parliament that was "Asian Integration."

He proposed establishment of 7-8 regional groups of the Asian countries to chalk out the modalities to achieve objectives of the Asian Parliament. Those groups, he said, would share their reports with respect to modalities in the upcoming plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly.

Senator Chhit Kim Yeat, representative of APA President from Combodia in his inaugural remarks said that in order to realise the ultimate goal of Asian Parliamentary Assembly was integration in Asia. He said the Asian Parliamentary Assembly had to start from somewhere, possibly from Asian integrated Energy Market as its role was essential in improving economic, social and cultural sectors to improve the human development and promote the Human Development Index as an index for the sustainable development goals.

Leader of the House Senator Raja Zafar ul Haq was unanimously elected as the Chairman Standing Committee on Economic and Sustainable Development Affairs while Senator Mushahid Hussein Syed stated that the balance of power was shifting from West to Asia and future lied with Asia.

Senator Sherry Rehman underlined the need of integration and stated that the countries that were not integrated would not be able to save themselves from the onslaught of climate degradation. She said the hardening borders, refugees as well as climate change and security risk were going to be major problems and the Asian countries needed integration to deal with them.

Delegates from Iran as well as Palestine, Russia, Jordon, Bhutan etc also made brief remarks about the meeting as well as about the measures taken by their countries to move towards for achieving SDGs. Delegate of Palestine strongly criticized the silence over the killing of innocent people in Palestine at the hands of Israeli forces and in Occupied Kashmir by the India Forces.