ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott has reaffirmed the UK’s support to Pakistan in the areas of education, climate resilience, and social development.

She expressed these views in a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at the Parliament House.

According to a statement, she praised the speaker’s “inclusive and consultative approach, especially his efforts to involve all political parties in the legislative process”.

She lauded Pakistan’s sustainability initiatives and emphasised the value of sharing parliamentary experiences to strengthen lawmaking, the statement read.

The speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that enhancing parliamentary cooperation was key to further solidifying bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UK.

He stated that Pakistan deeply valued its long-standing relationship with the UK and noted that stronger inter-parliamentary engagement was essential for shared progress. Mr Sadiq said that a series of structural reforms aimed at modernising Parliament has been initiated.

“This is the first parliament in the world that has been transformed into a Green Parliament through complete solarisation.”

He also said that more than 60,000 applications were received for the three-month Parliamentary Internship Programme, and over 200 interns were selected through a merit-based, gender-inclusive process that ensured representation from minority groups and major universities.

“It is vital to engage young people in democratic processes through meaningful parliamentary exposure,” he remarked.

He also added that the whole staff of the National Assembly was interviewed by himself to ensure better resource management. He further shared that he had personally met with over 1,400 employees to understand their concerns and ensure their welfare was addressed. “Parliamentary staff are also being trained in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). While AI presents certain challenges, its potential benefits for governance are significant,” he noted.

The speaker further stated that the legislative council, established in 2014, continues to strengthen parliamentary committees, the communique stated.

Technical staff have been assigned to assist committees in enhancing their performance. “Even Private Members’ Bills, which were previously overlooked, are now referred to the relevant committees,” he said, adding that legislative proposals are shared across party lines to promote inclusive scrutiny.

He also noted that, for the first time, the National Assembly’s Finance Committee was reviewing the federal budget 2025–26, reflecting strengthened institutional oversight.

The speaker identified population growth and socio-economic disparities as pressing challenges requiring coordinated and forward-looking policy responses. He also briefed the high commissioner on the successful conduct of the 18th Speakers’ Conference, which sought to harmonise legislative efforts between federal and provincial legislatures. Additionally, the formation of an Association of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) was highlighted as a milestone in promoting coordination between the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq reaffirmed that Pakistan always pursued a policy of peace and restraint as became evident in the recent Pakistan victory in war with India.

He said that global peace was essential as it was the common man who suffered the most due to conflicts.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2025