KARACHI, Jan 10: The first Parliamentary Information Technology Resource Centre opened in Sindh Assembly. The US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker and Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, who signed a MoU in June 2005 for setting up the facility, unveiled a plaque on Wednesday after their formal speeches highlighting the objectivity of the centre.

The centre, which is a major component of the $8 million USAID Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project, is a part of a broad programme to build the capacity of all four provincial assemblies as well as the National Assembly and Senate.

The centre will provide members with computers and internet connections for their research, writing and communication needs that will enhance their ability to serve the constituents they represent. Additionally the facility will serve as a training facility for computer and other skills as well as a testing and training venue for staff and members, on new software applications being developed to automate the legislative process.

Referring to the US assistance, Mr Crocker said that the capacity of building of the legislators and extensive use of information technology would bring improvement and help in making the legislators more efficient in the discharge of their responsibilities and strengthening the legislative institution. He said he was happy to see the Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly at the function. He said the project would help to institutionalise and strengthen democracy.

He said he was happy to note that the Sindh Assembly, where the Quaid-i-Azam and Quaid-i-Millat wrote the history of Pakistan, was the first to have the legislative strengthening facility.

Welcoming the US Ambassador and other guests, Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah thanked USAID for providing the facility at the assembly. He also highlighted the historical role and contribution of the Sindh Assembly in the making of Pakistan.

Mr Shah said that the centre would facilitate parliamentarians to have access to the Library of the US Congress and Commonwealth democratic institutions and contribute in strengthening legislature process.

The facilities made available at the centre include unlimited internet access, photocopying, printing, scanning and fax.