The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), in collaboration with Mustehkam Parlimaan (MuP) – a project funded by the European Union – organised a two-day consultative meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The programme was attended by seventeen Honorable Members and ten secretariat officers, centered on the theme “Strong Committees Make a Strong Legislature”. The meeting provided a platform for exchanging experiences, reviewing the Rules of Procedure, and strengthening the Assembly’s committee system.
Mr. Taj Muhammad, Director (Parliamentary Development Programme), PIPS, welcomed participants, highlighting this was the third workshop in the series, following the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and Balochistan.
Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, warmly welcomed participants of the workshop. He highlighted the vital role of committees as considered the “eyes, ears, and brain” of legislatures worldwide, citing practices from the UK, US, and Commonwealth countries. He praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for strengthening committee powers under the Speaker’s leadership through adoptation of new Rules. He also acknowledged Mustehkam Parlimaan’s partnership and PIPS’ dedicated support for designing and implementing such learning events. Stressing that true legislative strength lies in oversight, fairness, and integrity, he expressed confidence that the discussions would enhance parliamentary practices and democratic accountability in the province.
The first session of the programme was co-chaired by Honorable Senator Farhatullah Babar and Senator Mohsin Leghari.
Senator Farhatullah Babar congratulated the Members and the Honourable Speaker Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to pass and adopt the Rules of Procedure adding that it has empowered the standing committees, in addition to the provincial legislature in true spirit. Next, he provided a guidance on how to use the newly adopted Rules that empower the Committee Chairs to make the standing committees more effective. Terming strengthening committees as an evolutionary process, Senator Babar cited the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reforms as a model.
Senator Mohsin Leghari shared his legislative background and advocated for empowering committees. He draws attention to the use and abuse of the newly reformed Rules of Procedure and shared that the chairpersons should see these reforms as responsibilities in addition to powers. The facilitator also shared a checklist with the participants, the use of which will help the standing committees function more effectively. He also emphasized the need for committee chairs to actively engage researchers to strengthen committees.
The second session of the programme was jointly facilitated by Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Former Executive Director PIPS and Mr. Naeem Ullah, Additional Secretary, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mr. Muhammad Anwar, described committees as vital for legislative work and public engagement. He outlined types of committees, comparative analysis of Committees of other legislatures and their functions. He discussed the newly adopted rules of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in comparison with other provinces and the federal legislature.
The third session was facilitated by Syed Mohsin Masood Bukhari, Special Secretary (Legislation) Punjab Assembly on Tools and Techniques to assess draft bills at committees.
Day second of the event focuses on presentation of draft Five Year Strategic Plan of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.