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ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP):The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in collaboration with the Karakoram Area Development Organisation (KADO) and Agha Khan Foundation (AKF), organised a five-day workshop on Parliamentary Business for the Members of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly (GBA).
The workshop was designed to enhance the capacity of the GBA members in legislative and non-legislative business, oversight tools and inclusive policy planning. This initiative underscores PIPS’ commitment to fostering robust democratic governance and institutional development in Pakistan’s strategically significant region of Gilgit Baltistan.
Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director, Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) warmly welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of the workshop in strengthening democratic governance and institutional capacity.
Stressing the significance of parliamentary business as the foundation of democracy, he encouraged participants to embrace their role as custodians of public trust, shaping policies aligned with the aspirations of their constituents.
Abbas Ali, Chief Executive Officer, of Karakorum Area Development Organisation, and Ms Zohra Bano, Regional Gender Advisor, Agha Khan Foundation delivered their opening remarks respectively.
The chief guest of the ceremony, the Honourable Speaker of the GBA, Mr Nazir Ahmed, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the organising teams for their tireless efforts and unwavering support in making this event a success. He encouraged the participants to fully embrace the unique opportunity presented by this workshop, urging them to engage actively, exchange ideas, and absorb as much knowledge as possible.
The first day included sessions on an overview of the Constitution of Pakistan, governance frameworks, and gender-sensitive policy planning.
The second day focused on the legislative process and the GBA’s rules of procedure. A notable session on Pakistan’s foreign policy by Hon.Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed highlighted political developments concerning GB.
The third day emphasized the significance of non-legislative business and effective governance through oversight tools. Visiting the Senate of Pakistan was a chance to the participants to observe the Senate Session and they also visited the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission as well.
On the fourth day, best practices in committee functions and fiscal management were explored. Participants learned about leveraging non-legislative tools for governance.
Day five was focused on gender-inclusive development and budgeting, as well as the use of technology for governance.
During the closing ceremony, the Executive Director of PIPS reiterated the workshop’s role in empowering legislators with insights into effective governance and thanked the resource persons for their invaluable contributions.
He acknowledged the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration to address the challenges of parliamentary governance and emphasized PIPS’s unwavering support for democratic institutions.
Abbas Ali, the Chief Executive Officer of the Karakoram Area Development Organization (KADO) expressed his deep appreciation to the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) for their commendable efforts in organizing such an impactful event.
The chief guest of the ceremony, the Hon. Chief Minister of GB, Haji Gulbar Khan, extended his sincere gratitude to the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and the Karakoram Area Development Organization (KADO) for their collaborative efforts in organizing this significant event. He emphasized the value of such initiatives, highlighting how they serve as an invaluable resource for enhancing the skills and understanding of parliamentary and governance practices.
He further elaborated that these programmes are instrumental in empowering law makers and decision-makers to address the multifaceted challenges of governance with greater competence and insight.
He emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration between institutions to sustain efforts toward strengthening democratic governance and promoting inclusive development in GB.