Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services in collaboration with the Parliamentary Assembly of Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO) organized a two-day International workshop on “Strengthening Parliamentary Services for Regional Development” for the officials of the PAECO Member Parliaments at the National Assembly Secretariat. The workshop was attended by PAECO member officials from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and National Assembly Secretariat Officers.
The workshop commenced with the recitation of the verses of the Holy Quran. Mr. Fayaz Thaheem, Deputy Director (PDP), PIPS moderated the event. On day one, participants delved into the crucial theme of ‘Understanding the Role of Parliamentary Services.’ Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director of PIPS, provided a comprehensive overview of legislative and non-legislative procedures, setting the stage for enhanced parliamentary liaison. The plenary session concluded with a small round of Question/Answer session from the participants, facilitated by Special Secretary, Mr. Muhammad Mushtaq.
A knowledge-sharing session on ‘ Adapting Best practices for Economic Cooperation’ was held to discuss ways for strengthening economic cooperation among PAECO member states, emphasizing parliamentary contributions within the organization’s mandate. The day concluded with Mr. Mukarram Jan Ansari facilitating a session on ‘Ease of Doing Business and Need for Reforms in Legislation’. The session explored international best practices, empowering participants to identify areas of concern and formulate effective trade-related policies.
The second day of the workshop focused on, functioning, and strengthening of parliamentary forums and friendship groups. Special Secretary, National Assembly Secretariat, Syed Shamoon Hashmi facilitated the session. He highlighted the significance of the platforms and discussed at length the history of Women Parliamentary Caucus.
The workshop concluded with a brief presentation on the working of Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services and a certificate distribution to the participants by Worthy Executive Director, Mr. Muhammad Anwar and Special Secretary, National Assembly Secretariat, Mr. Muhammad Mushtaq.