18th Speakers conference: Ayaz calls for dialogue, collaboration

ISLAMABAD: In a landmark gathering, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday highlighted the significance of dialogue and tolerance in promoting parliamentary democracy.

Addressing participants at the 18th Speakers Conference, convened after a decade-long hiatus on his special initiative, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq emphasised prioritising constructive dialogue over personal disagreements.

The 18th Speakers’ Conference was chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and attended by prominent parliamentary figures, including Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, federal and provincial leaders, and representatives from key parliamentary committees and forums.

The speaker advocated a collective approach to strengthening democratic and parliamentary institutions across Pakistan. He expressed these views in his keynote address at the Parliament House, Islamabad.

During his speech, he underscored the vital role of inter-legislative connectivity in enhancing legislative practices and promoting good governance. He called for institutionalising the Speakers Conference as an annual event, fostering collaboration between national legislatures to ensure consistent legislative progress.

To enhance coordination, he proposed forming associations for secretaries, chief whips and members of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) to streamline operations across the National Assembly, Senate, provincial assemblies, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, and the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.

Acknowledging the challenges of the speaker’s role, he emphasized impartiality and resilience in maintaining fairness within the house. He applauded the achievements of PACs in recovering billions of rupees and encouraged provincial assemblies to bolster their oversight mechanisms.

The speaker urged assemblies to address critical national issues, including economic challenges, climate change, and unemployment while steering clear of partisan criticisms. He advocated collaboration with organisations like PIPS to develop curricula and training programs for parliamentary staff.