The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide 14 million dollar to Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Consortium (PLSC) to strengthen the national and provincial legislative governance in the country.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard has been signed between Senate Secretary Shahid Ahmad Khan and World Vision PLSC Country Director Sigurd Hanson, a statement said here on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, they would work in a participatory and co-operative manner in facilitating the implementation of the programme.
The three year project focuses on empowering the civil society organisations and general public to constructively engage, lobby legislators and to sensitise legislators in the legislative decision making process.
A Legislative Development Steering Committee comprising Secretary Senate and members of the Senate will guide the implementation of all activities related to the project.
Components of the project include a training programme for legislators, staff of the secretariat, research on policy issues being considered by the parliament and a live-feed parliamentary channel.
Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro, National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain and the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Nancy Powel witnessed the MoU signing ceremony.
Mohammadmian Soomro commended the initiative undertaken by the PLSC and hoped the project would help strengthen the system of legislative governance in the country.
He called upon the members of the Parliament to participate, enthusiastically, in the programme and ensure its success.
Nancy Powel highlighted the US government's commitment towards strengthening the democracy and legislative process in Pakistan.
She said the project was a unique Pakistani initiative that reflected a keen interest among all legislators in becoming more effective and serving the people of Pakistan.
She pointed out that an important element of the project would be improved processes for the involvement and participation of civil society in the legislative system.