Doha, Qatar: President of Pakistan H E Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan deeply appreciates Qatar’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and dialogue.
The President of Pakistan further said that Qatar has also played an important mediating role in regional peace efforts, including facilitating talks between Hamas and international interlocutors, and hosting the US-Taliban dialogue that paved the way for the Afghan peace process and addressed Pakistan’s regional concerns.
“Pakistan and Qatar share a deep, multidimensional partnership anchored in shared faith, culture, and mutual respect. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972, both nations have expanded cooperation in political, economic, defence, energy, and humanitarian fields,” he said in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula during his visit to Doha to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development. In the current geopolitical context, President Zardari said, the partnership has strategic significance for regional peace, energy security, and social development.
“I am looking forward to my meeting with Qatari leadership on the sidelines of this visit. Both sides value the contribution of Pakistani workers in Qatar and are exploring ways to strengthen cooperation in training and social protection within the broader context of South-South collaboration promoted at the Second World Summit for Social Development.”
On the role of the Pakistani diaspora in Qatar in strengthening bilateral ties and contributing to Pakistan’s development, he said: “The Pakistani community in Qatar remains a vital link in our enduring relationship. Their hard work and professionalism have contributed greatly to Qatar’s remarkable development, while their remittances and skills continue to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and deepen people-to-people ties.”
He added, “We are helping our workers enhance their skills and use formal banking channels so they can access better opportunities abroad and support their families and the national economy more effectively.”
At the same time, he said, Pakistan deeply appreciates Qatar’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and dialogue, including its efforts to facilitate engagement between parties such as Hamas and other stakeholders through the Doha I and Doha lI processes. “Qatar’s commitment to dialogue and humanitarian diplomacy resonates with Pakistan’s own vision for peace, stability and development in the region.” On possibility of any partnerships or agreements expected to emerge from the summit that could support Pakistan’s economic or social development programmes, President Zardari said that the Doha process aims to generate global and regional partnerships.
“Pakistan is ready to pilot Doha-aligned Social Floor Compacts with UN and multilateral partners, linking social protection expansion with job creation and climate resilience. Any such initiatives would be developed under UN supervision in the months ahead.” To a question about his views on the role of regional collaboration — particularly with Qatar and other Gulf countries — in achieving shared development goals, he said that regional collaboration is crucial. “Pakistan and Gulf countries can cooperate on labour mobility, skills, and sustainable investment. Working together on climate-resilient infrastructure and social protection strengthens regional stability and supports the shared goals reflected in the Doha Declaration.” On the significance of the Second World Summit for Social Development for addressing today’s global social and economic challenges, President Zardari said the summit is very important because it renews international consensus on social justice and inclusive growth at a time of widening inequality and climate stress.
“It provides a space for dialogue between the Global North and South on fair financing and responsible trade. By establishing global benchmarks for universal social protection and decent work, it helps countries like Pakistan align national policy with shared goals.” To another question about Pakistan government’s efforts to address complex challenges related to poverty, education, and health, the President of Pakistan said: “We are addressing these challenges through targeted social protection and human capital investment. The Benazir Income Support Programme provides direct cash support to over nine million families and runs education and nutrition schemes such as Waseela-e-Taleem and Nashonuma.”
These programmes, he said, improve school attendance and reduce malnutrition. “Pakistan’s social policy direction aligns with the Doha Declaration’s call for universal social protection floors and inclusive economic recovery.”
Talking on new social protection or welfare programmes Pakistan’s government introduced to support vulnerable populations, he said: “We are expanding the coverage and functions of BISP. It now uses a fully digital National Socio-Economic Registry covering 35 million households, ensuring transparency and better targeting. Programmes for child and disability benefits, disaster-linked cash assistance and women’s digital financial inclusion are being developed in line with Doha commitments.” About his visit to Qatar, he said that he was here to represent Pakistan at the Second World Summit for Social Development taking place in this beautiful city of Doha.
“This summit renews the global commitment to poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion. Pakistan’s message is that social protection and job creation must go hand in hand. We will highlight our experience through the Benazir Income Support Programme, which reaches more than nine million households, and our plans to link social protection with climate resilience and decent work as part of a Doha-aligned Social Protection and Jobs Compact for 2026-28.” He said Pakistan will focus on three main priorities at the summit: expanding social protection through the Benazir Income Support Programme and the National Socio-Economic Registry, creating decent and green jobs, and linking social policy with climate resilience. “We are ready to work with the United Nations and development partners to turn these priorities into practical results under the Doha framework.”
Responding to a question about initiatives being taken to harness potential of youth in Pakistan for national development, President Zardari said Pakistan’s youth are central to our development vision. “We are expanding skills training and linking young people to employment through digital systems, entrepreneurship programmes and formalisation of informal work. These steps support the decent-work agenda set out in the Doha Declaration.” On Pakistan’s potential roles in promoting South-South cooperation in the fields of education, health, and social protection, the President said Pakistan has emerged as an important actor in promoting South-South cooperation by sharing its policy innovations and community-based development models with other developing countries.
“Through sharing its experience in health, education, and social protection, Pakistan is contributing to building inclusive and resilient societies across the Global South. We are sharing our experience in digital cash transfers and registry-based targeting through the Benazir Income Support Programme and the National Socio-Economic Registry."
Talking on the importance of international cooperation in addressing issues like climate resilience and food security, which directly affect social stability, he said that it is very important because climate change directly affects people’s livelihoods.
“The Doha Declaration recognises that social protection and climate adaptation must go together. In Pakistan, our experience after the floods showed that timely cash assistance helps families recover faster and prevents them from falling deeper into poverty. We now want to expand such disaster-linked support with the help of affordable financing and technology partnerships, so that our social protection system also strengthens climate resilience.” Asked how Pakistan is leveraging technology and digital innovation to improve access to education, healthcare, and social services, he said technology is now central to Pakistan’s social protection system.
“The National Socio-Economic Registry and biometric verification make cash transfers transparent and ensure that assistance reaches the right families.
“Under the Benazir Income Support Programme, digital wallets are helping women manage payments safely and build financial independence. We are also upgrading the registry with data tools that improve targeting and allow faster response during emergencies.”
He shared his long-term vision for a socially and economically inclusive Pakistan, saying, “Our long-term goal is to build a Pakistan where every family has access to social protection, women are financially independent, and young people can find decent work. We want to achieve these calls for sound economic management, efficient delivery systems, and strong partnerships through the Doha and Sustainable Development Goals frameworks. We want social protection to serve as the backbone of inclusive and climate-resilient growth.”
