Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed presided over a meeting of the Special Committee of the Senate Forum for Policy Research (SFPR) Wednesday at Parliament House. The Special Committee of the Senate Forum for Policy Research (SFPR) agreed on a comprehensive work plan and finalised its report which would be presented in the upcoming meeting of the SFPR. Seasoned Parliamentarian and member/focal person of the Committee former Senator Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar Bhinder also attended the meeting and gave his valuable input on important aspects of the plan.
Senator Mushahid Hussain underscored the need for developing an institutional memory of the Senate by compiling rulings of the Chairman Senate, quality speeches made in the House, Statute book and documenting best parliamentary practices. Salient features of the work plan include orientation program for the newly elected Senators, live broadcasts of the question Hour of the Senate, activation of the Friendship groups as a force multiplier for Pakistan's foreign policy. Member of the Committee former Senator Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar Bhinder observed that live broadcasts of the Senate Question Hour would help in active participation of the members of the Senate and effective accountability of the executive.
Moreover the Special Committee also proposed a pre-budget session to acquaint the members on the process of budget making, presentation and debate to be held in the House. The Special Committee also recommended that SFPR should pursue research on priority areas like national Security, climate change and environment, energy shortage and possible solutions, broadening tax base to strengthen the economy, and Pakistan's foreign policy in the context of regional economic co-operation, economic corridors and connectivity.-PR