Press Releases 2008
USAID Hosts Orientation Session for Punjab Assembly Parliamentarians
04/18/2008
Lahore - U.S. Consulate’s Principal Officer Bryan Hunt reiterated the United States’ support for the “democratic transition in Pakistan” during his address to members of the newly elected Punjab Assembly today.
“The United States looks forward to working with the new governments – both Federal and Provincial -- to promote economic growth and reduce poverty and to build a prosperous, secure and free society,” stated the U.S. diplomat during an orientation for the legislators held under the USAID’s Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project (PLSP) project.
The PLSP aims to assist legislators in law-making, oversight, management and infrastructure, tailoring activities to meet their specific needs. In August 2007, Ambassador Anne W. Patterson inaugurated the Parliamentary Information Technology Resource Center (PITRC), situated in the Members Hostel in
Lahore, to provide Assembly members with research and information support.
“Following the orientation, PLSP will conduct detailed sessions on areas of interest to the members, particularly the Budget process, member-media relations and rules and procedures of the House,” remarked USAID Project Director Christopher Shields.
More than 200 members of the Punjab Assembly attended the orientation session -- one of a series of introductory events PSLP has conducted in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies in Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP.
Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mohammad Iqbal Khan presided over the event. Dr. Abul Hasan Najmee and Mr Ahmad Khan Goraya, former officials of the Punjab and National Assembly respectively, also spoke on the occasion.
