Acting President and Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday launched the Senate Mobile Application, describing the initiative as a significant step towards digital empowerment, greater institu-tional efficiency and a more transparent and respon-sive parliamentary system. Addressing the launch-ing ceremony at Parliament House, the Acting President said the application marked the beginning of a new era in the Senate’s journey towards digital transformation since its establishment in 1973.
He said the initiative was not merely about launch-ing an application but about introducing “a new way of working, a new way of thinking and a new way of serving the people of Pakistan.” Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the digital initiative would have a transformational impact on the working and per-formance of the Senate and its Members, while helping build a modern parliamentary institution equipped to meet the demands of the contemporary era.
Reflecting on his own journey in public service, he said parliamentary and governmental processes had traditionally relied heavily on manual systems, with considerable time being consumed by procedures rather than focusing on the ultimate purpose of pub-lic service. “That was then. This is now,” he re-marked, underscoring the need to embrace technol-ogy and innovation. The Acting President said the Senate Mobile Application represented a strategic shift and a shared commitment to ensuring that the Upper House kept pace with technological ad-vancement.
He said that the Senate Secretariat had already em-braced the e-office system with encouraging results, adding that the mobile application was part of a broader digital transformation aimed at saving time, improving efficiency and eliminating unnecessary redundancies. He emphasized that digitalization was not merely about convenience but about enhancing institutional effectiveness. “When our systems work seamlessly, we can focus on what truly matters: our constitutional roles and functions,” he said.
The Acting President also highlighted the role of technology in strengthening the connection between Parliament and citizens. He said the Senate’s offi-cial website and social media platforms were pro-viding timely information about parliamentary ac-tivities, facilitating public feedback and helping counter misinformation.
He added that the expansion of digital archives had made authentic parliamentary information more accessible to parliamentarians, researchers and citi-zens, contributing to greater transparency and strengthening public trust in democratic institutions. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said digital transformation was not a one-time initiative but an ongoing jour-ney. Quoting Neil Armstrong, he said, “This is one small step in Senate digitization efforts, but one giant leap for parliamentary democracy keeping pace with modern times.”
The Acting President stressed that innovation should not be pursued for its own sake, but should serve the broader objective of making democracy more transparent, effective and closer to the people. He said the launch of the Senate Mobile Application was a step towards a more modern, efficient and responsive Senate that served the people of Pakistan with dignity and effectiveness. He urged Senators to fully embrace the new tech-nology and utilize it to further enhance their parlia-mentary work and engagement with citizens. Acting Chairman of the Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar said the launch of the Senate mobile application marked an important milestone in the institution’s parlia-mentary journey and reflected a major change in its working methods.
