Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Syed Awais Qadir Shah, unveiled an ambitious five-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the provincial assembly into a more modern, effective, and empowered legislative body. Addressing a two-day strategic planning workshop in Bhurban, Murree, he emphasized that the plan would enable the House to better address its needs, enhance its performance, and strengthen parliamentary democracy.
The workshop, which was held in collaboration with the European Union-funded Mustehkam Parlimaan project, brought together members of the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) of the Sindh Assembly, along with provincial assembly members and officials. The goal was to identify key strategic priorities, set actionable objectives, and lay the groundwork for long-term institutional development. “The outcomes will enable the House to better address its needs and improve performance,” said Speaker Shah, adding that the initiative would be instrumental in fostering effective governance.
The European Union’s support in this regard was crucial in promoting stronger parliamentary democracy, he stated. Among the participants in the workshop were key figures like Syed Aijaz Hussain Shah, Syed Hassan Ali Shah, Adil Altaf Unar, Muhammad Asif Moosa, and many others, including officials from the assembly secretariat, such as G.M. Umar Farooq, Secretary of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh (PAS). Brekhna Ajmal, Programme Manager for Gender Equality and Parliaments at the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, also contributed to the event, alongside other EU project leaders like Aizaz Asif and Ali Imran.
Over the course of the two-day workshop, discussions focused on the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities within the Sindh Assembly, with particular emphasis on improving its core functions: legislation, oversight, and representation.
Participants deliberated on ways to enhance public access to the assembly’s proceedings, improve the functioning of Standing Committees, and establish an independent professional service cadre within the Assembly Secretariat. “An effective legislature can better fulfill its core functions and create a stronger connection between elected representatives and their constituents,” Speaker Shah remarked, noting that the strategic plan would allow the assembly to tackle pressing legislative challenges more efficiently.
The Mustehkam Parlimaan project, funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by GIZ and the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS), is dedicated to strengthening parliamentary democracy in Pakistan. It supports the National Assembly, Senate, and all four Provincial Assemblies in improving their legislative processes, policy-making, budgetary oversight, and representation.
Through various initiatives, including previous projects such as IP3, SUBAI, and now Mustehkam Parlimaan, the European Union has consistently contributed to the enhancement of Pakistan’s parliamentary capacities, ensuring that parliamentary functions are more efficient and responsive to the needs of the people.
