GENEVA: The annual session of the 135th Inter-Parliament Union (IPU) was told on Sunday that several sustainable and supportive parliamentary services had been launched by the Upper House of parliament of Pakistan to assist lawmakers in legislation.
During the session being held in Geneva, Senate Secretary Amjed Pervez Malik said the new developments and initiatives had enabled the Senate to play a more proactive constitutional role.
Giving details, he said a number of initiatives had been introduced under the leadership of Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani. Several parliamentary committees have been empowered by introducing amendments to the rules to ensure affective accountability of the executive.
He said indigenous planning and self-reliance had helped in developing and strategising working of the secretariat and developing institutional linkages with academia to infuse dynamism and progressiveness. “Young graduates have been engaged to serve the parliament under the self-conceived programme – Clerk of the Parliament,” he added
During the presentation, the secretary said the House Business Advisory Committee had been made effective and the house had been given representation in the Public Accounts Committee. He said that a code of conduct had been prepared for to ensure maximum attendance of members. Information regarding salaries, allowances and privileges of chairman, deputy chairman, leader of the house, leader of the opposition and other members of the Senate has been uploaded to the Senate’s website.
Highlighting the silent features of the parliamentary outreach programme, he said several initiatives such as Public Petitions, Know your Parliament, Live Webcasting, commemorating Foundation Day of Senate and Constitution Day, revamping the Senate website, inter-institutional dialogue, internship programme and engaging Clerk of the Parliament, Guests of Parliament and Guided Tour of Parliament House had been introduced in addition to consolidating the existing programmes for enhancing the access of the public to the parliament.
