Secretaries meeting finalises Agenda for the 18th Speakers' Conference to be held in May 2021
Wednesday, 28th April, 2021
Islamabad: 29th April 2021: National Assembly Secretariat hosted Secretaries meeting of Senate, four Provincial Assemblies, legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in Parliament House this morning. Secretaries of Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Legislative Assembly of Aj&k and Gilgit Baltistan Assembly attended the meeting whereas Secretaries of Provincial Assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan participated in the meeting through video link. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Tahir Hussain, Secretary National Assembly.
During the meeting the matters related to House procedures, strenghtening oversight and outreach function of Parliament, inter Legislatures cooperation and administrative issues were deliberated upon in detail.
It was unanimously decided to present the agenda of institutionalizing the Office of Whips of parliamentary party in the Assembly in all provincial and both Houses of the Parliament. The agenda item related to Compilation of Speakers' ruling was also discussed. The Secretaries suggested that capacity building of Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Studies (PIPS ) was imperative to carry out this important task. The Secretary of legislative body of AJ&k and Gilgit Baltistan suggested for the up gradation and modernization of Legislative bodies. The secretaries unanimously suggested to increase collaboration in Library and Research facilities so that extensive collection of books in libraries and research material be shared amongst the legislatures.
It was stressed that unification in the rules and procedures of standing committee related to strengthening of Parliamentary oversight on Executive would enable Parliament to be more productive. The enhanced role of PIPS to built capacity of Members of the Legislative bodies and parliamentary support staff of all provincial, Senate and National Assembly was also suggested.
The agenda items finalized in the instant meeting would be placed before the Speakers Conference to be held next month for discussion.