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| April 25, 2003 | Friday | Safar 22, 1424 |
US offers help to make democratic institutions strong
ISLAMABAD, April 24: The United States has offered technical as well as financial assistance to Pakistan in order to strengthen its democratic institutions.
The offer was made by the US envoy to Islamabad, Nancy Powell, who called on Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Thursday.
The US envoy facilitated the NA speaker on assumption of his office and commended his way of conducting the house in a calm and confident manner.
She also expressed her pleasure over the increase in representation of women in parliament.
Ms Powell explained to the NA speaker the working of the US parliament, and said her country was willing to support democracy and the democratic institutions in Pakistan.
She offered expertise and financial assistance for structuring an indigenous institution such as a resource centre for parliament to help and strengthen democratic institutions, particularly the committee system in Pakistan.
The US envoy said the assistance would include necessary equipment, books, training and exchange of visits of parliamentarians.
Pakistani members of the National Assembly would be invited to visit US parliament, Capitol Hill, as well as state legislatures so that they may have firsthand knowledge and interaction with their counterparts in the US, she said.
The US envoy explained the working of the US Senate and the Congress as well as the committee system. There has always been small attendance in the Senate and the Congress during normal sessions while the committee system is very effective and most of the business of both the houses is undertaken during the proceedings of these committees, she told the NA speaker.
Chaudhry Amir appreciated the US offer, saying the US and Pakistan were old friends, and will remains so in the years ahead.
He said the NA secretariat would come up with practical proposals as to how the United States offer of assistance could be utilized.
He stressed the need for updating the proposed research centre for the National Assembly while enhancing the level of debate as well as legislation in the house.
The speaker said it would also be beneficial if the US provided the prevalent security system for parliament.
Later on, Dr Christoph Brum, the ambassador of Germany, also called on the NA speaker and facilitated him on his assuming the office.
He assured that his country will continue making investment in Pakistan, and said an investment conference was being organized in Lahore in the near future.
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