President Zardari addresses first joint session of Parliament

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday addressed a joint session of Parliament, urging collaborative efforts to navigate the nation out of crisis.

The joint session of parliament, chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate, took place with foreign ambassadors also participating as guests.

In his speech, the President stated that he would briefly outline the vision for the future at the outset of the parliamentary year.

He extended congratulations to all distinguished guests present at the beginning of the parliamentary year.

“We have to carry out different economic reforms and make ties between provinces cordial,” said the president.

“I also feel that we have a little time to waste, the country needs us to move on from the polarisation, so come on now to contemporary politics. This joint house must play a leading role,” he added.

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The session, initiated by the president in accordance with the authority granted by Articles 54 (1) and 56 (3) of the Constitution, began at 4pm. This marks President Zardari’s seventh address to the joint session of parliament, having previously done so six times during his earlier tenure as the country’s president from 2008 to 2013.

More to follow