Karachi, June 21, 2005 – Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, the Speaker of the Sindh Provincial Assembly, and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker signed a memorandum of understanding here today that formalizes cooperation between the Provincial Assembly and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for a program of Technical Assistance to Strengthen the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.
USAID is preparing to launch an $8 million program to build the capacity of all four provincial assemblies as well as the National Assembly and Senate. The memorandum of understanding sets forth the terms of the joint-USAID/Parliamentary cooperation.
The agreement “signifies the Sindh Provincial Assembly's commitment to bettering the professionalism of its staff and members to carry out the business of the Assembly,” said Ambassador Crocker. “Under the project, a training center will be instituted that will provide orientation to parliamentarians in the provincial and national legislatures to help them work through the rules of business, to develop their committee systems, and become acquainted with other topics that members feel are required to improve the way the business of government is conducted.”
Similar memoranda of understanding has been signed with the Balochistan Assembly and will soon be signed between the United States and the other provincial assemblies and the national parliament in the coming weeks making it a truly all-Pakistan effort . “Sindh Assembly, in line with the rich political culture of the province, is dedicated to the cause of legislative strengthening,” the Ambassador noted.
USAID's Legislative Strengthening Program is one of several USAID programs that aim to help strengthen Pakistan 's democratic institutions. In organizing projects to support electoral reform, strengthen political parties and advance devolution, USAID is helping Pakistan to improve the transparency, accountability and competency of its overall governance setup.
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