Parliamentary Development Unit

Parliamentary Development Unit

Senate Parliamentary Development Unit (PDU) had been established under the visionary leadership of the Chairman Senate of Pakistan to explore new avenues for cooperation with partners and come up with defined and tangible work areas commensurate with emerging trends in the parliamentary practices/domain.

Vision

“To perform as an in-house ‘think tank’ to advise the Senate leadership on institutional partnerships with national and international entities for organisational development of the Senate and its Secretariat.”

Mission

“To complement and spearhead the organizational development of the Senate that aligns with the international parliamentary practices through partnerships.”

Key Areas of Work:

  1. Capacity building initiatives for the members of the Senate

    • Legislation
      • Capacity building in legislative processes and RoPs through workshops, creation of literature (leaflets, modules, videos etc.)
      • Capacity building in legislative and post-legislative scrutiny through trainings, literature and international exchanges
      • Creating a ‘Pool of Professionals’ to assist Members and Standing Committees in various aspects of legislation
      • Capacity building initiatives on constitutional framework and House Business
      • International visits to learn about trends in legislative mechanisms
    • Oversight
      • Understanding concept and philosophy to improve parliamentary oversight through various parliamentary tools stipulated in the Rules
      • Analysis of international best practices in the field of parliamentary oversight for replication
      • International visits to review diverse trends in the oversight mechanism
      • Thematic Sessions on oversight and committee functions
    • Budget
      • Thorough understanding of budget preparation and approval process
      • Using technology to create budget analytics and gain meaningful insights from the budget
      • Training of members in domestic public financial management system and laws
      • Creation of a “pool of professionals” to support in pre and post-budget analysis
      • Capacity building in legal framework related to budget including tax laws and revenue generation
      • Enhancement of Senate role in budget making process in line with international best practices

  2. Modernizing the organizational functioning/Establishing standards and priorities towards smart and efficient solutions in line with international parliamentary best practices

    • Introducing standards and priorities towards smart and efficient solutions for Parliamentary business in line with international best practices
    • Introducing initiatives relating to E-Parliament and Office Automation
    • Creating a smart and efficient Secretariat through introducing modern management methods and restructuring of Human Resource Management
    • Introducing technologies that assist in effective administration in terms of financial planning, reporting and overall organizational efficiency
    • Replacing redundant practices in interpretation, editing/translation and reporting with new trends

  3. Senate Outreach Programme

    • Linkages with the provincial assemblies
      • Conceiving and facilitating meaningful points of interaction and activities that strengthen linkage of Senate with the provincial assemblies
      • Frequent exchanges between the Senate and Provincial assemblies to enhance Senate’s profile as the House of the Federation
    • Reforms in organizational openness
      • Introducing practices that facilitate information flow from the Senate to the public via Senate website, community engagements etc
    • Academic Linkages
      • Creating vibrant linkages with the Academia to provide expertise for evidence/research-based legislation and policy-making

  4. Capacity Building initiatives for the Senate Employees

    • Targeted trainings for capacity development in day-to-day work
    • Scholarships and fellowships for future studies
    • Targeted diplomas, certifications and online courses
    • Provision of safe and congenial working environment to Members and staff

  5. Build a Strong Partnership and Explore Areas of Joint Working with IPC

    • Explore Partnerships for Joint Initiatives Involving IPC & Senate PDU
    • Supporting IPC outreach initiatives through mutual partners
    • Supporting IPC Committees utilizing expertise and resources from potential partners

  6. Preparing and help implementing the Senate Strategic Plan

    • Formulating Strategic plan (a draft exists)
    • Soliciting support from potential partners to implement the SP
    • Regular updating of the Strategic Plan (every 3 or 5 years) per the changing needs

  7. Spearheading Research and Analytical Studies for the Organizational reforms

    • Conducting studies and analysis through partners aiming at:
      • Best practices and trends in Editing/Translation and Interpretation
      • Assessing best practices in legislation, oversight and Committee functioning
      • Assessing best practices in management and structure of parliaments
      • Other key areas as identified from time to time

Methodology of work:

The PDU works through adopting the following methodology:

  • Collect details from Branches about their needs
  • Concept paper on specific support to be shared with donors/partners for any Branch
  • Meeting with donors to chart out and finalize specific workp lans
  • Sign MoUs
  • Providing advice on mobilizing internal resources
  • Detailed quarterly review of ongoing projects/MOUs
  • Generation of Annual Report against each MoU/Validation
  • Consistent review meetings with partners post MoU/Validation phase
  • Formulating KPIs for each project agreed with partners
  • Keeping digital record/back up of all official proceedings/minutes
  • Separate link for PDU at Senate website