The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the PIPS, Islamabad, at 1:30 p.m. to strengthen cooperation in parliamentary development, democratic governance, institutional capacity building, and sustainable development initiatives.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director, PIPS, and Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, along with senior officials from PIPS, UNDP Pakistan, and representatives of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The MoU provided a framework for collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including parliamentary development, institutional strengthening, research, capacity building, policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and initiatives aimed at promoting democratic governance, effective parliamentary oversight, and sustainable development.

Welcoming the delegation, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director, PIPS, appreciated the longstanding partnership between PIPS and UNDP Pakistan and acknowledged the valuable support extended by UNDP and its development partners towards strengthening democratic institutions and parliamentary capacity in Pakistan. He emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in addressing contemporary governance challenges and promoting evidence-based policymaking.

Mr. Goraya highlighted PIPS’ growing international role in parliamentary development and informed the participants that PIPS would be hosting the Second International Conference of Parliamentary Training Institutes (PTIs) in Islamabad in February 2027. He further shared that PIPS had recently been designated as the Secretariat of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Network of Parliamentary Training Institutes (PTIs) and was agreed to serve as Chair of the Interim Steering Committee of the PTIs Network. He noted that these developments represented a significant achievement for Pakistan and reflected the confidence of the international parliamentary community in PIPS’ leadership, professionalism, and commitment to parliamentary excellence.

Responding to the Executive Director’s remarks, Dr. Rizk congratulated PIPS on its designation as the Secretariat of the IPU Network of Parliamentary Training Institutes (PTIs) and on assuming the Chairmanship of the Interim Steering Committee of the PTIs Network. He described these accomplishments as a significant recognition of PIPS’ growing international stature and contribution to parliamentary development. Dr. Rizk also expressed UNDP Pakistan’s keen interest in supporting PIPS’ future initiatives, including research programmes, capacity-building activities, international conferences, and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and parliamentary effectiveness.

Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, commended PIPS for its remarkable contribution to strengthening parliamentary democracy, legislative effectiveness, and institutional capacity in Pakistan. He observed that the formalization of cooperation through the MoU would further deepen collaboration between the two institutions in advancing democratic governance and institutional development.

Representatives of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), who accompanied the UNDP delegation, appreciated PIPS’ contribution towards parliamentary strengthening and democratic governance in Pakistan. They acknowledged the Institute’s growing international profile and welcomed opportunities for continued collaboration in areas of parliamentary development, institutional capacity building, and democratic governance.

The discussions underscored the importance of promoting inclusive governance, evidence-based policymaking, effective parliamentary oversight, and institutional resilience through sustained partnerships and knowledge exchange. Participants from PIPS, UNDP Pakistan, and FCDO reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting democratic institutions and advancing sustainable development goals through collaborative action.

Reflecting a strong convergence of mandates, with PIPS serving as Pakistan’s premier parliamentary capacity-building institution and UNDP as the leading United Nations development agency, both institutions expressed confidence that the MoU would serve as a dynamic platform for translating shared commitments into tangible outcomes.

The Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed by Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director, PIPS, and Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan. Senior officials from PIPS, UNDP Pakistan, and FCDO witnessed the signing ceremony and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a productive and enduring partnership.

The ceremony concluded on an optimistic note, with all participants expressing their resolve to work together in advancing democratic governance.