WASHINGTON: A Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Senator Babar Siraj Khan Nasir, arrived in Washington on Tuesday evening for a series of high-level engagements with US lawmakers and officials as part of a renewed push to strengthen bilateral ties.

The delegation, which includes members of both the Senate and the National Assembly of Pakistan, will also engage with the members of the Pakistani diaspora to emphasise the significance of their participation in promoting national causes in the United States.

The delegation will participate in multiple forums, beginning with an Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) session at the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday, followed by a press conference at the National Press Club (NPC) and a diplomatic reception in New Jersey.

According to Dr Gholam Mujtaba, chairman of the Pakistan Policy Institute USA (PPI-USA), who has been instrumental in organising the visit, the engagements are designed to promote legislative-to-legislative dialogue, deepen institutional cooperation, and highlight Pakistan’s role in regional stability and global diplomacy.

The Rayburn IPG session will be hosted by Congressman Al Green as the congressional sponsor and Congressman Ron Estes will deliver keynote remarks. Confirmed US participants include representatives Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Gottheimer.

On the Pakistani side, senators Saleem Mandviwalla, chief whip of the Senate, and Rana Mehmoodul Hassan, chairman of the standing committee on cabinet, will engage US lawmakers on parliamentary cooperation, security, trade, and diaspora-enabled diplomatic channels.

“The dialogue comes at a sensitive regional juncture, as developments in the Middle East and South Asia continue to impact global security and economic interests,” Dr Mujtaba said.

“Pakistan’s strategic relevance, its commitment to democratic values, and the contributions of the Pakistani-American community will all be highlighted during these engagements.”

The NPC briefing will allow the delegation to share insights with US and international media on parliamentary diplomacy, bilateral relations, and areas of potential cooperation. Discussions are expected to focus on trade, investment, counterterrorism, and the role of diaspora networks in strengthening ties between the two countries.

The delegation will conclude its visit with a reception in Clifton, New Jersey, on January 24, to be attended by US lawmakers, city and state officials, and members of the Pakistani diaspora to encourage dialogue on community-level cooperation and private-sector engagement.