LAHORE, June 30 (APP): National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said that honesty and commitment are the main elements for making progress and it is what country expects.
He said this while addressing the certificate distribution ceremony of 104th National Management Course and the 19th Senior Management Course at National School of Public Policy on Thursday.
He congratulated all course participants on successful completion of their courses and said that this was indeed a commendable achievement both in terms of personal respective carriers and collectively for the system.
He also appreciated the efforts of the administration and the faculty of National School of Public Policy and the National Management College.
Ayaz Sadiq said that the country inherited an established civil service structure and a defined judicial system, it unfortunately could not create a sustainable legislative service structure.
After 3 years of speakership, today more than 17 universities in Pakistan were offering courses in Parliamentary studies.
The National Assembly has established a legislative drafting Unit and was preparing young officials through national and international exposures.
“We have initiated a full fledged in-house on-job training programme”, he added.
The Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services has been linked with the prestigious institutions like yours and the National Defence University to work on developing an apt corps of parliamentary services.
“I voluntarily surrendered all hiring powers and now all inductions in the National Assembly were being made through Federal Public Service Commission”, he added.
He said the promotion policy has been centred on Seniority-cum-Fitness basis.
Speaker said two years back he formed all parties committee of seasoned parliamentarians to jointly develop a comprehensive and multi dimensional five year strategic plan which could enable us to cope all challenges of legislation, oversight and representation.
It is the plan which led us to the energy conservation and so the dream of Green Parliament became a beaming reality, making Pakistan Parliament the first in the world to convert its entire energy need on solar system.
We were catering to over 100 fresh graduates as young interns who have joined various branches of the National Assembly to learn the dynamics of the parliamentary democracy.
“I after becoming speaker constituted the Millennium Development Goals task force and on my request all provincial speakers also constituted similar forums”, he added.
In changing global scenario, no dictum of diplomacy was found more effective than public and the parliamentary diplomacy. We at National Assembly have been proactive in engaging with parliamentarians all over the world today the national assembly has 88 parliamentary friendship groups with sister parliaments around the world.
As a result more than more parliamentary delegations headed by the speakers and chairpersons of the parliaments of the world are now visiting Pakistan.
He said that so far we have welcomed guests from Saudi Arabia , China, Turkey, European Union, Argentina, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Germany , Sweden, Korea, Cuba and other countries.
The National Assembly Speaker said that Kashmir issue has been raised on every international forum including the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). In coming months we are planning to organise conferences on Kashmir issue, population control, fundamental rights and countering violent extremism and terrorism.
I have taken adjournment motions on matters of greater public importance on various occasions irrespective of the subject under consideration being provincial subject.
The parliament has taken firm stance against the menace of terrorism initially by sanctioning the government for finding a solution through initiation of dialogue and later by approving the launch of the operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The parliament in view of the extra ordinary situation, sanctioned the passage of the 21st constitutional amendment bill, which paved the way for the establishment of the military courts.
For strengthening democracy it is important to protect and strengthen institutions.
The 32 standing committees of the National assembly were fully functional. So far 73 government bills, 3 private members bills have been passed by the assembly.
The 15 ordinances have also been laid and as many as 136 resolutions including 68 by the private members on wide range of subjects have also been passed.
He said that parliament reflects the aspirations of the nation. It is therefore important for all institutions of the state to help and assist this sovereign body in the discharge of its duties.
I am confident that after completion of your courses you would be equipped with enhanced knowledge amd improved management skills to contribute positively in your respective institutions, the speaker added.
Earlier, the speaker distributed certificates among the officers who completed their courses.
National School of Public Policy Rector Muhammad Ismail Quershi, Dean Naeem Aslam were also present.
Sohail Ali Khan from Information Group was also among the officers who completed their courses and received their certificates.
