Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi on Saturday said a strong and effective legislature is central to success of a democratic system of governance. Speaking at a USAID-sponsored seminar on "Knowledge and Power, the Connection Between Public Policy Research and the Parliament," he said knowledge cannot be gained without a conscious effort.
"For this an enabling environment, good research and plenty of information are the ingredients that strengthen the voice and work of the legislators," Sher Afgan added. The minister said parliamentary research can help improve decision making on specific public policy issues like education, health or access to potable water.
Sher Afgan lauded the setting up of a Parliamentary Institute of Legislative Strengthening at the parliamentary lodges. The institute is a two-year initiative funded by the USAID in partnership with the national and provincial legislatures.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said research is very important to building strong institutions and said Pakistan can learn from the US in this regard. He said various committees of the parliament have got an important role to play in strengthening the working of the legislature and democracy.
Former Senator Farhatullah Babar said parliamentarians can do their research work through the library of parliament where voluminous information is kept in the form of questions and their answers, which they ask in the house.
"Archives of the questions and their answers in the parliament are most authentic as they come directly from the government," he said."All you have to do is organise your facts and figures, which the government provides, and you get a clear picture if there is any deviation that it has made from a given policy," he added.
Director of Research and Associate Librarian of the parliament of Canada Hugh Finsten shared the Canadian experience. Later, the legislative staff of the parliament were given certificates.