ISLAMABAD: PML-N parliamentary leader in the Senate and chairman of Senate standing committee on foreign affairs, Senator IrfanSiddiqui,onWednesday highlighted importance of modernising diplomatic practices to face contemporary challenges.

Talking to foreign secretary Cyrus Sajjad Qazi, whocalled on him here at Senate Secretariat, Senator Siddiqui said that effective diplomacy has evolved into a sophisticated science.

He held out an assurance that the Senate committee would actively support the Foreign Office and it would act as a think-tank to foster strategic and informed diplomatic initiatives.

Highlighting that moving from aid to trade to achieve the goal of self-relianceranked on top of the incumbent government, he noted that economic diplomacy was the way forward.

The agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Senate`s standing committee on foreign affairs scheduled to take place on July 9 also came under discussion at the meeting.

The agenda includes a comprehensive briefing on performance of the ministry and foreign missionsand the steps being taken by the ministry to ensure welfare of Pakistani students studying in various countries.

Mr Qazi congratulated Senator Siddiqui on being elected as the chairman of the Senate standing committee on foreign affairs, and expressed the hope that the committee`s insights and guidance would greatly benefit the Foreign Office`s operations.