With the participating countries showing little or no enthusiasm, the resource-constrained Sindh province is spending millions of rupees by hosting an international parliamentary conference in the city.
To be inaugurated by National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza on Tuesday, the 4th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Asia Regional Conference-2012 is envisaged to attract provincial and federal lawmakers, senators and other parliamentary officials from the Commonwealth countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Acting Speaker Governor Nisar Khuhro would deliver a welcome address at Tuesday’s opening session that would focus on trade barriers between the participating countries.
According to Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Shehla Raza, the conference would be held for brainstorming on trade barriers, terrorism and violence against women during three different sessions.
Sindh Assembly Secretary Hadi Bux Buriro told Pakistan Today that the number of expected participants is around 55, the deputy speaker was unsure about the arrival of most of the delegates.
Maldives, she said, had refused to turn up due to its internal problems.
Bangladesh had not yet confirmed its attendance until 2 pm on Monday when the deputy speaker along with the Sindh Assembly secretary was giving details about the conference to the media at a press conference at the Assembly Secretariat. “They will confirm their participation by evening. We will let you know till then,” Raza told reporters.
However, the government did not provide any update on the country’s participation until the filing of this report.
About India, a major stakeholder in the South Asian region, she said the nuclear-armed neighbour would be participating in the annual event as an observer.
Sri Lanka is the only country, whose delegation, the deputy speaker said, had arrived in Pakistan. To be conducted by Nafisa Shah, the event would also be attended by speakers, secretaries, senators and parliamentarians from other provinces of the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“If these two countries cannot participate, we cannot stop our programme,” Raza replied when asked why half of the participants were not showing up.
The deputy speaker and secretary remained tightlipped when asked about the estimated cost of the moot. “We will use our own funds (the Assembly’s),” Buriro told Pakistan Today.
However, according to sources close to the organisers of this international event, the Assembly Secretariat had estimated the expenditure to reach around Rs 100 million.
The sources said on the special directives of the Sindh Assembly speaker, the assembly building was renovated with new curtains and carpets, numerous flower-pots and the furniture was polished.
Besides, they said, the guests would be accommodated in two costly hotels and special planes are being chartered to transport the dignitaries across the province.
The Assembly staff, divided in different committees to undertake various assignments, would be given separate salaries for working for the five-day event.
Asked if hosting the international conference was mandatory or voluntary for Sindh, which is already falling short of funds after last year’s devastating rains and floods, Buriro replied that the province chose to hold the event and it was not compulsory for it.
