Meeting between Senate Parliamentary Development Unit & Mustehkam Parlimaan IP5 held at the Parliament House

ISLAMABAD, Nov 07 (SABAH): A constructive meeting between the Senate Parliamentary Development Unit (PDU) and Mustehkam Parlimaan IP5 took place at Parliament House in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by Director General (COORD/PDU) Senate Mir Shai Mazar Baloch, the PDU team Project Manager GIZ Shakeel Imtiaz, and Legislative Affair Advisor Ms. Nadia Batool.

The Director General (Coord/PDU) welcomed the IP5 team. The meeting provided a platform for the introduction of the extension of the IP5 plan, emphasizing a commitment to sustained collaboration. Key discussions centered on several vital areas. DG (Coord/PDU) briefed the team about the recent accomplishment of the Senate towards strengthening parliament including; the IPU self-assessment and work plan on the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). The meeting also highlighted the Senate’s accomplishments, including a legislative drafting workshop.

Mustehkam Parliamaan 1P5 discussed their extended work plan for the Senate. The need for a comprehensive needs assessment for solid waste management was acknowledged, and a collaborative roadmap with IP-5 and GIZ will be developed. Additionally, discussions revolved around upcoming initiatives, including an in-house training program and a regional workshop on HR protocol and residential training, tentatively scheduled for January.

During the meeting, the proposal for budget orientation sessions for Senators and the potential integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the Senate’s operations through GIZ’s digital project garnered significant attention. The importance of supporting Senate committees to enhance their contributions to the legislative process was underscored, reinforcing the commitment to strengthening the parliamentary system. Furthermore, the Senate’s Education Parliamentary Caucus (EPC) received dedicated focus, with GIZ expressing its commitment to facilitate partnerships and collaborations with other stakeholders

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing these collaborative initiatives, aligning with the vision of strengthening the Senate and parliamentary systems for the benefit of Pakistan and its citizens.