July 13, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 16, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, July 12: A strong and dynamic parliament is necessary in a democratic setup in order to keep a close watch on government activities and make policies for the welfare of people.

These observations were made by Eleanor Valentine, the director of Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project of USAID.

She said the parliament should have close links with people of diverse, religious, linguistic and cultural background. The masses should know about the proceedings of their parliament, she stressed.

Ms Valentine said the parliament should be a supreme body and it should have the authority to question government activities.

“A parliament is like a forum where representatives of people belonging to diverse communities discuss political agendas and work out plans for the solution of their problems,” she said.

Anyhow, a parliament is not supposed to be a static body but it should be dynamic keeping abreast of the changing situation and adapting itself to the emerging environment, she said.

About the Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project, she said it was a two-year plan funded by the US Agency for International Development and implemented under contract by Development Alternatives Incorporation with local and international partners. The project works with the National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan and provincial assemblies in NWFP, Baluchistan, Sindh and Punjab.

Programme activities in each of the legislatures are focused around four general technical areas. It assists Pakistani legislatures provide information to the public and receive input from citizens during the legislative process. Similarly, it also helps Pakistani legislatures, including members and staff, improve the structures and mechanisms by which legislation is analysed, debated and passed.