ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced the beginning of a digitization process to establish an e-Parliament, aimed at modernizing the country’s legislative system, state media reported on Friday.
An e-Parliament system uses digital tools and platforms to make legislative work more efficient, transparent and accessible. Such systems typically include features like digitized records, online sessions, e-voting and citizen engagement portals.
Under the e-Parliament system, National Assembly members will be able to access the Order of the Day, the Constitution, Rules of Business and other legislative documents digitally on their designated iPads from anywhere, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
“Once members start using the new digital system, the practice of placing paper documents on their desks will be discontinued,” APP quoted Sadiq as saying.
“A help desk has been set up at the gate where members can configure their passwords and collect their iPads.”
Pakistan has been shifting toward digitization through initiatives like the Digital Nation Pakistan program, online National Database and Registration Authority services and e-offices in federal ministries to modernize governance.
The e-Parliament system was widely adopted by different countries around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global body uniting national parliaments to promote democracy and peace.
