National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday said that Parliamentary Studies would be included in the syllabus of universities and colleges.
Addressing a press conference along with the speakers of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Azad Jammu Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after the conclusion of 17th Speaker Conference, the NA speaker said, “Higher Education Commission had been asked to include Parliamentary Studies in the syllabus so that people who wanted to come in politics and desired to get jobs in assemblies should know how the Parliament ran its affairs.”
The event was attended by Senate deputy chairman, NA deputy speaker and speakers and deputy speakers of the four provincial assemblies.
The former speakers shared their valuable experience and memories with the audience. The speaker said that Islamabad Declaration issued after the conference said the parliament would be made a sovereign institution in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The speaker said it was also agreed in the conference that television channels should be set up for the assembly for airing of proceedings so that masses can judge the performance of their representatives.
The issue of separate television channel for Parliament will be discussed with the minister for information and broadcasting, he added.
The speaker said that Speakers Conference was aimed at promoting harmony and friendship among the provinces. He said the conference also paid tribute to law enforcement agencies and Pakistan armed forces for their unmatched contribution for the country’s security. He said the conference noted that minorities had played key role for the development and progress of the country and their rights must be protected.
The speaker said all the assemblies were unanimous that legislation should be made for the strengthening of democracy and for the supremacy of rule of law. He said it was also agreed that ministers should give policy statement in the assembly rather than addressing press conferences as it would boost self-esteem of the parliament.
Sadiq said that the proceeding of the parliament and assemblies would be started on time and calendar of the assembly would be followed.
The employees of the national and provincial assemblies would be imparted training for the improvement of drafting of legislation. He said the members of the conference were unanimous that durable peace in South Asia cannot be guaranteed without solving Kashmir issue as per aspiration of Kashmiri people.
The speaker said legislation will also be made for the safeguarding of the children’s future and international agreements will also be followed in this regard. He said the conference also appreciated the role of media.
To improve the capacity building of member of assemblies and secretariat employees, Pakistan Institute for Parliamentarians Service (PIPS) would be made more effective and working of research sections of the assemblies would be further improved.
To a question, he said all the institutions of the country were working within their constitutional parameters.
“No institution is interfering in the working of other institutions”, he added.
