ISLAMABAD: Parliaments are main pillars of democratic governance and dispensation, besides deciding factors in nations' socio-economic development, accountability and responsiveness.
Secretary Senate Amjed Pervez Malik said this while addressing the inaugural session of 3-day Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Staff Development Workshop at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services on Wednesday.
Workshop is a joint venture of Senate of Pakistan and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
After welcoming the participants, he termed it a milestone of continuing collaborative synergy between Pakistan Senate, national and provincial assemblies, CPA regional branches and the CPA Secretariat.
Amjed Pervez said that a parliament cannot function effectively in the absence of adequate, highly professional and need-specific staff support to the House, its committees and members.
He further mentioned that in a parliamentary system, learning and improving is a continuous process that takes in its stride both emerging needs and trends as well as the valuable lessons learnt from past experiences.
He appreciated that the CPA shares and understands Pakistan's parliamentary enthusiasm and needs as a key partner and facilitator in reformatory initiatives.
He hoped that the participants will utilise the knowledge and play a more supportive and beneficial role in helping the Parliament plan, adapt and chart out the best possible policy and legal frameworks in face of often overlapping challenges and opportunities on various fronts.
Director Programmes CPA Meenakshi Dhar,conveyed greetings of the Chairperson of the Executive Committee, Dr Hon. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh, the Members of the CPA Executive Committee, and the new CPA Secretary-General, Akbar Khan.
Director Programmes CPA Meenakshi said that CPA not only works for supporting the capacity of Parliamentarians but it is also wholeheartedly committed to the development of well-resourced Parliaments as institutions.
She further added that CPA recognises that a deficit in support staff with the necessary skills will inevitably result in a limitation to the effectiveness of Parliament.
The better resourcing of Parliaments with expert staff supported through their professional careers, is absolutely crucial to a successful parliament and consequently a healthier democracy.
Such workshop will give insight into current practices in accountability, legislative oversight, representation and parliamentary procedure.
The inaugural day of the workshop held four sessions on regional issues and expectations, procedures of House,relationship of clerks with parliamentarians and committee administration.
The sessions were attended by delegates and staff of Senate Secretariat. The participants were urged to participate actively, share experiences, encourage peers to share their knowledge, be proactive in engagement, take as much as they can from this programme and put the newly acquired knowledge into practice in their parliaments.
Resource persons from different CPA parliaments including Peter McHugh, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Western Australia, Dr Godfrey Haantobolo, Deputy Clerk, Zambia, Simon Ross, Senior Deputy Greffier, Guernsey , Meenakshi Dhar, Director of Programmes, CPA Secretariat are participating in the workshop.
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