Islamabad, January 05, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that the “world is going through sweeping changes”. He said that the global upheaval caused by the Corona-virus Pandemic called for a new working and social environment while the catastrophes brought by the steep climate change also desired a new approach to human living.
He also drew the attention of participants to the economic upheavals and the consequent social and political unrest. He expressed these views while addressing participants of the 26th Conference of Speakers and Presiding officers of Commonwealth (CSPOC) on the topic “Role of Speaker and Presiding Officer in Leading Parliamentary Innovations” in Canberra, Australia.
The Speaker said that Parliaments have to be innovative to invent new ways to resolve the challenges faced by nations. He said that as representatives of the people, the onus of innovating new socio-cultural, socio-political and socio-economic order falls upon parliamentarians. The Speaker said that “Democracy is ever-evolving”. He also said the journey of humanity’s pursuit for a more just, equitable and inclusive society saw a significant transition in the aftermath of the industrial revolution.
He also said that the meaningful participation of the common citizen in holding the government of the day accountable is the only guarantee against dictatorships as well as the power captured by the populist, fascist and extremist movement.
He also reminded that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto termed the space between the people and its Parliament as the “Democracy Deficit”, which must be addressed by the Parliaments of the World. While talking about an open, transparent, equitable and accessible Parliament as the only solution to bridge the divide between the general public and the parliament.
The Speaker said that the 1st 5-year National Assembly Strategic Plan (NASP) was introduced in 2008. This was reviewed and improved in light of our experiences in 2014 and the 3rd and present 5-year NASP was penned in 2019.
Each has been backed by a definite Annual Work Plan and every Department of the National Assembly is required to align its annual budgetary requirements to achieve the targets set in the Strategic Plan. The entire process is regularly monitored and evaluated through a specially created wing of Special Initiatives in the National Assembly, under which a Project Management Unit is entrusted to be the Secretariat of the NASP.
The Speaker also said that in 2009, the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, which is an across-the-board alliance of all women parliamentarians. It has now become a global parliamentary brand, referred to as a role model by the 2010 Inter-Parliamentary Union Report, CPA Publications and various UN Agencies.
The second step was the creation of a Special Parliamentary Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals in 2014 when Pakistan’s Parliament became the first-ever parliament to shift its development agenda from MDGs to SDGs.
The efficiency and effectiveness of this group can be gauged from one example: In light of its targeted approach towards energy conservation. Pakistan’s Parliament became the first-ever 100 percent Green Parliament by installing a One Mega Watt Solar System.
The Parliamentary SDGs Secretariat was also instrumental during the recent devastating floods in Pakistan where the Parliament led the international discourse at COP 27 at Sharam-Al Sheikh in making the world realize that Pakistan is the victim and not responsible for global environmental degradation.
Youth remains the driving force for any nation, aspiring for a secure and bright future. The Young Parliamentarians Forum, created in our Parliament is not only the bridge between the Youth and the Parliament but is also useful.
For more information, contact:
Secretary,
National Assembly of Pakistan
Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,
Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9221082-83
Fax: +92-51-9221106
Email: assembly@na.gov.pk
Website: www.na.gov.pk