Funds approved for broadcast of Senate proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday approved funds for broadcasting Senate proceedings and Standing Committees through Webcasting and a dedicated FM radio.

In addition the Finance Committee also approved financial and human resources for the think-tank, Senate Forum for Policy Research (SFPR) and incentives for secretariat assistants, sub-assistants, junior assistants and security guards, gunmen and chamber attendants in its landmark decisions. The Senate Finance Committee paid glowing tributes to the Chairman Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari for his remarkable services during his tenure wherein he introduced innovative ideas to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the country. Members of the Committee appreciated the bold steps taken by Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari including the initiating broadcasting and webcasting, creating a think-tank to assist the Senate in policy matters and the launching of the Asian Parliament.

Senator Sayed Mushahid Hussain termed the idea of creating a think-tank as “a landmark initiative of the Chairman…to gain wisdom from learned colleagues in the Senate. The high-level meeting was held at the Parliament House today which was presided over by Chairman Senate, Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari. The Finance Committee gave approval to various expenditure and raised financial assistance out of Senate Secretariat Employees Welfare Fund from Rs.30, 000 to Rs.50, 000 for the lower staff. The proposal of establishing a dedicated FM radio, live webcast and a TV channel of the Senate was floated by Senate’s Media Directorate. Senator Mushahid said there was an urgent need to remove the disconnect between the Parliament and the people and cited world Senates such as the Rajya Sabha and the US Congress that broadcast their proceedings live on air.”

Senator Tahir Mashhadi said this initiative would leave a lasting legacy of the Chairman and it should be implemented soon. On the initiative of the Seventh Plenary of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in Lahore which sent a strong and positive message to the comity of nations about Pakistan and its leadership. Chairman Senate and other members of the Committee also recognized the role of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed as Chairman Organizing Committee and Secretary Senate, Amjed Pervez Malik for their remarkable efforts and making the Lahore APA Conference and world success. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman Senate, Sabir Ali Baloch, Leader of the Opposition, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan besides Senators Haji Adeel, Col (r) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Secretary Senate Amjed Pervez Malik, senior officers of the Ministry of Finance and the Senate Secretariat.

Daily Times