Electoral reforms: NA passes motion to form parliamentary body

The National Assembly in Pakistan voted on Friday to endorse a motion enabling Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to assemble a parliamentary committee in coordination with the Senate chairman. The panel's purpose is to propose electoral reforms for guaranteeing free, fair, and transparent elections throughout the nation. Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, proposed the motion, advocating for the adoption of modern technology in the electoral process and the formulation of requisite legislation.

The committee will consist of representatives from all parliamentary parties, and the Speaker retains the authority to modify its composition based on recommendations from parliamentary leaders and establish subcommittees when necessary. Prior to the motion approval, Dr Chaudhry addressed inquiries from House members during the question hour, notifying them about the government's efforts to modernize Pakistan's passport and immigration system through the introduction of electronic passports (e-passports) and the enhancement of technology to align with international standards.

Presently, all passports issued in Pakistan are e-passports equipped with embedded chips to bolster security and thwart forgery. He further disclosed that state-of-the-art machinery has been installed at passport offices and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports headquarters in Islamabad. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the nationwide transition might be protracted due to the country's vast population and the necessity of deploying equipment across various locations.

The minister also mentioned that while machine-readable passports fulfilled their intended function, advancements in global immigration systems necessitated the adoption of more sophisticated technology. He added that the government was broadening passport services to district and tehsil levels, and applications submitted by overseas Pakistanis via Pakistani embassies and consulates were typically forwarded to the headquarters for e-passport issuance.

He also stated that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had honed its expertise, attracting interest from other countries. Pertaining to another query, the minister reported that approximately 94 percent of development work in Sector C-14 had been concluded, and possession of plots in Sector E-12 had been conferred to allottees.

He further noted that development work in C-14 was nearing completion, and the process of transferring plots was almost complete. The Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Muhammad Awn Saqlain, informed the House that the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) comprised 12 employees on deputation, 251 regular employees, and 90 vacant positions.

He affirmed that all employees on deputation had been appointed in accordance with the prescribed rules and criteria following scrutiny by a committee under the jurisdiction of the relevant minister. Addressing a question about official vehicles, he disclosed that 22 vehicles were utilized by Grade-20 officers of the WWF. He also mentioned a 50 percent reduction imposed under the prime minister's austerity policy.

The Fund's expenditures for the past five years were shared, with administrative costs totaling Rs 753 million, and operational expenditure amounting to Rs 300 million. Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, informed the House that Pakistan Television's (PTV) business plan had been submitted to its board for approval subsequent to the completion of the requisite formalities.

He stated that the plan was anticipated to be endorsed within the following months. He also mentioned that the Finance Division had released funds totaling Rs 11.73 billion and Rs 13 billion for the corresponding financial years. After the question hour session, two bills, "The National Book Foundation (Amendment) Bill, 2026" and "The Pakistan Climate Change (Amendment) Bill, 2026," were introduced in the National Assembly.