Enhancing parliamentary outreach is key to abridging space between public representatives and the public: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq

ISLAMABAD, May 15 (SABAH): Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said that enhancing parliamentary outreach is key to abridging space between public representatives and the public. He expressed, “Digitalization is key to transforming Parliament into a goal-orientated organization that produces quality and public responsive legislation. He, further, emphasized the need to strengthen parliamentary staff through robust training.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed these views while chairing the 1st meeting of the National Assembly Strategic Plan Committee Special in Parliament House Islamabad.

While emphasizing the need to evolve a strong monitoring system for enhancing the efficiency of parliamentary supporting staff, he said that proper training and effective performance evaluation can render them more productive. He expressed, “Strengthening standing committees is essential for ensuring quality legislation.” ‘Women Parliamentary Caucus, Secretariat of Sustainable Development Goals, Young Parliamentarians Forum, Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS), and other parliamentary forums play proactive roles in enhancing parliamentary efficiency.  Furthermore, he said that rationalization of the budget as per the strategic plan would make it more implementable and rational.

While deliberating upon the contours for the formation of the strategic plan, Committee members unanimously decided to make a strategic plan led by parliamentarians.
MNA Syed Naveed Qamar has said that social media has gained undeniable importance in their age of social media and developing an independent proactive social media department to engage common users in parliamentary activities.

MNA Nafisa Shah highlighted the importance of magnifying the constitutional role of Parliament, assessing members’ engagement, and taking beneficial insight from parliamentary staff would make the strategic plan more feasible and productive.

Meanwhile, MNA Bilal Kiayni also briefed the committee about the in-depth and marathon exercise undertaken under Honourable Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to interview each employee of the National Assembly.

Mister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted the need to modernize and digitalize the parliament. She also said that the provision of efficient services to Parliamentarians must also be the focus of Strategic Plan.

Ms Roomina Khursheed Alam Special Assistant to Prime Minister also expressed the need to make PIPS more proactive.

MNA Sharmila Farooqi expressed displeasure on the poor quality of support providing by PIPS staff deputed in the National Assembly.

Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, MNAs Shahram Khan Taraqai, Zain Hussain Qureshi, Ms. Munaza Hassan, Ms. Nafissa Shah, Mohsin Laghari, Former ED PIPS Zafrullah, Yasmeen Rehman and senior officers of PIPS and National Assembly Secretariat also attended the meeting.