By Asim Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Wednesday emphasized that the digitalization of parliamentary procedures is the need of the hour and a vital step toward enhancing institutional efficiency, transparencyband governance.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the digitalization of parliamentary affairs and the introduction of an AI-enabled working environment, he said the transition toward a paperless Parliament would not only improve the efficiency of parliamentary business but also significantly reduce expenditure from the national exchequer by minimizing paper usage and administrative costs. The meeting was attended by Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai, Members of the National Assembly Gul Asghar Khan, Syed Amin Ul Haq, Shaista Pervaiz, and Syeda Amna Batool, along with senior officials of the National Assembly Secretariat, representatives from the IT Department of the National Assembly and officials from the National Information Technology Board (NITB).
During the meeting, participants held detailed discussions on transforming parliamentary operations into a modern, efficient, and paperless system through the use of advanced digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Speaker informed the meeting that iPads had already been distributed among all Members of the National Assembly to facilitate digital access to parliamentary business, legislative documents, agendas, notices, and official records.
He said that, in the near future, the entire business of the House would be conducted through digital devices, enabling members to access all parliamentary proceedings and documents electronically.
Representatives of the NITB and the National Assembly’s IT Department briefed the meeting on indigenous AI-enabled applications and digital programs developed to streamline parliamentary functions and improve operational efficiency within the National Assembly Secretariat.
They said that the locally developed technological solutions would support digitized documentation, smart data management, automated processes, and enhanced coordination among parliamentary departments.
Ayaz Sadiq appreciated the efforts of the IT teams and NITB officials for developing indigenous technological solutions and directed the concerned departments to accelerate the implementation process to ensure a timely transition toward a fully digital and AI-enabled Parliament.
Reaffirming his commitment to modernization through innovation and technology, the Speaker said the National Assembly should emerge as a progressive, efficient, and environmentally sustainable democratic institution.
