ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat will host the 18th Speakers’ Conference at Parliament House, Islamabad, from December 18 to 20th, after a decade-long hiatus. The last such conference was held in 2014.

The conference will bring together speakers and presiding officers from Pakistan’s legislative bodies, along with their parliamentary delegations, to deliberate on a common vision for legislative progress and improvement.

According to a statement, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who previously chaired the 17th Speakers’ Conference in 2014, will again oversee the forum. The conference aims to empower parliamentary institutions to better address current and future challenges while fostering stronger cooperation across all levels of government.

The 18th Speakers’ Conference will focus on several vital legislative themes, including: Strengthening the Institution of Whips to ensure discipline and efficiency in parliamentary proceedings, Implementing Article 9-A of the Constitution to combat climate change, reforming legislative procedures to promote transparency and effectiveness, establishing a credible virtual parliament to enhance accessibility and engagement with citizens, enhancing parliament’s connection to the people and revising the Rules of Procedure to streamline legislative processes.

This conference will serve as a cornerstone for achieving enhanced parliamentary synergy, advancing national legislative objectives, and creating a more cohesive framework for parliamentary services.

Moreover, the conference will provide a platform for provincial and legislative assemblies to collaborate, share experiences, and exchange insights.

In addition to the main sessions, the conference will feature specialised forums to address key national priorities.

The 18th speakers’ conference will be chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and attended by Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab Malik Mohammad Ahmad Khan, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh Syed Awais Qadir Shah, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Babar Saleem Swati, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan retired Capt. Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai, Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Nazir Ahmad, Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Latif Akbar, along with their respective parliamentary delegations.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024