The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services in collaboration with IP5-Mustehkam Parlimaan Project organized a three-day workshop on “House and Committee Business: Responsibilities and Functions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Officers” for the officers of the Secretariat of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The workshop was conducted from 2nd to 4th March 2022 at Pearl Continental Hotel, Peshawar.
The workshop entailed elaborate briefing sessions regarding the Rules, Provisions and Responsibilities of Parliamentary Staff, which would help the employees of the Secretariat to better perform their job when assisting Members of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Legislative Business, Non-Legislative Business and the Committee Business. The participants were also enlightened about the Legislative Process. A Minutes Writing session was arranged to allow the participants practical experience of the art of Minutes writing.
The workshop was attended by employees from Grade 16 and above, among whom were senior officers of the Secretariat as well. Some of the officers have professional experience of over 20 years in the Assembly Secretariat and are well aware of the Rules, Provisions and Responsibilities of Parliamentary Staff. However, the purpose of this workshop was to bring all employees from varying scales on a single platform to engage in a knowledge-sharing experience. The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services regards such workshops with eminence as they allow all participants to align their routine tasks with the Rules of Procedure.
Experts from the field and from within the Secretariat were requested to share their expertise on the broad topics as mentioned in the agenda.
The Programme commenced with the recitation of Holy Quran. Special Secretary Mr. Attaullah Khan was invited to inaugurate the workshop, followed by Welcome remarks from Mr. Christopher Shields, Team Leader, Mustehkam Parlimaan Project. The Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Muhammad Anwar welcomed the participants and presented his book, “Parliamentary Practices and Working of Legislatures in Pakistan” to Mr. Inamullah Khan, Additional Secretary Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Mr. Waqas Ahmad Qureshi, Director PDP, PIPS conducted a brief round of introductions and discussed with the participants the programme agenda as well as the expected outcomes and key takeaways from the workshop.
The first session of Day-1 was about ‘Rules, Provision and Responsibilities of Parliamentary Staff: Assisting Members in Non-Legislative Business’, which was facilitated by the Executive Director PIPS Mr. Muhammad Anwar. He further shared with the participants the Questions and Motion for Discussion through an interactive session. The afternoon session was facilitated by Mr. Inamullah Khan Additional Secretary, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who conducted a session on ‘Rules, Provision and Responsibilities of Parliamentary Staff: Assisting Members in Committee Business’.
On Day-2, the first session on ‘Rules, Provision and Responsibilities of Parliamentary Staff: Assisting Members in Non-Legislative Business’ was facilitated by Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director PIPS. He reflected on the importance of officers’ role in facilitating the Honourable Parliamentarians with respect to Privilege, Calling Attention, Adjournment Motion and Resolution. The second session of the day was conducted by Mr. Muhammad Mushtaq Additional Secretary, National Assembly Secretariat. He described the Legislative Procedure which included the generation and passing of the bill. He also explained to the participants the difference between the procedures employed with respect to Private Member Bill and Government Member Bill.
The final session of the workshop on Day-3 was about ‘Writing Committee Minutes’, which was facilitated by former Secretary Senate of Pakistan, Mr. Iftikharullah Babar. He shared with the participants the Dos and Don’ts of Writing Minutes in Parliamentary Committees, and also engaged them in a practicum session, which provided an opportunity for the participants to receive feedback on their Minutes Writing skills.
The event concluded on 4th March 2022 with a certificates distribution ceremony. In the end, the course participants expressed their desire to organize such events on a regular basis. Mr. Waqas Ahmad Qureshi, Director PDP, PIPS thanked the facilitators, course participants, Mustehkam Parlimaan Project staff and PIPS’ Provincial PRC team for making the workshop a success.