Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani told the Pakistan Governance Forum 2026 that Parliament must serve as the bridge between the aspirations of 240 million citizens and the actions of government, arguing that a robust Parliament is essential for sustainable governance and democratic resilience.
Mr Gilani commended Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and his team for convening a high-level forum that brought together policymakers, experts and stakeholders to focus on reform priorities and transformative initiatives for the country.
Drawing on his experience as a former prime minister and speaker, the Chairman Senate underlined that governance cannot be confined to executive policy making alone; effective governance requires active parliamentary oversight to secure transparency, accountability and public legitimacy. He highlighted parliamentary instruments such as Cut Motions, Calling Attention Notices, Question Hour, debates and resolutions as vital mechanisms for refining policy and enforcing accountability.
Mr Gilani pointed to the crucial role of parliamentary committees, noting that much of the substantive oversight happens in committee meetings where legislation and budgets are examined in detail and ministers are held to account. He referred specifically to the Senate’s rigorous review of Public Sector Development Programme allocations from December to March and said the biannual budget reviews by committees promote fiscal discipline and alignment with national priorities.
The Chairman outlined three priorities to strengthen Parliament: investing in capacity building for senators and parliamentary staff so they can analyse complex policy and budgetary documents; embracing modern technology with a focus on artificial intelligence, with the Senate taking a regional lead in developing AI applications for legislative drafting, real-time comparative policy analysis and enhanced citizen engagement; and reinforcing the link between parliamentary oversight and executive action by urging the Planning Commission and ministries to institutionalize mechanisms for responding to committee recommendations.
Stressing that good governance is a shared national responsibility, Mr Gilani said a strong Parliament remains the guarantor of equitable progress and democratic stability. He congratulated the Ministry of Planning for organising the forum and called for collective efforts to ensure that legislative scrutiny translates into effective development outcomes for the people.
