**Speaker of the National Assembly: The Use of Modern Technology and Artificial Intelligence is Essential for Ensuring Quality and Public Interest Legislation**

 **Meeting between Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq**

Islamabad: July 30, 2024: Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq stated that parliamentary cooperation among Commonwealth member countries is essential for regional prosperity and development. He emphasized that the use of modern technology and artificial intelligence is crucial for ensuring quality and public interest legislation. He expressed these views during a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and representatives from Commonwealth parliaments, who are on a five-day official visit to Pakistan.

The Speaker highlighted the importance of parliamentary friendship groups to enhance parliamentary links among Commonwealth member countries. He urged the need to digitize the parliament for effective and public interest legislation. He mentioned the establishment of a Drafting Council in the National Assembly of Pakistan to assist members in drafting legislation. He stated that artificial intelligence is a technological innovation that can help promote harmony among the parliaments of Commonwealth member countries.

While mentioning the Green Parliament Initiative, he noted that Pakistan's Parliament is the first parliament to fully transition to solar energy for its electricity needs. He further stated that Pakistan's Parliament has formed a parliamentary task force to promote coordination among all stakeholders for the achievement of sustainable development goals and has established a secretariat for this purpose. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq mentioned that Pakistan's Parliament has initiated a Youth Internship Program to strengthen ties between the youth and Parliament. He added that the Parliament has established a Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) to ensure the fundamental rights of women. He also referred to the Parliamentary Caucus for Child Rights, stating that "the Parliamentary Caucus for Child Rights is playing a significant role in the protection of children's rights."

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland thanked the Speaker for the warm welcome extended to her and her delegation upon their arrival. She commended the resilience of the Pakistani nation in dealing with the devastating effects of the 2022 floods. She also praised the active role of Pakistan's current Parliament in parliamentary diplomacy. She stated that Pakistan is an active member of the Commonwealth and has continued to play a significant role in promoting cooperation and harmony among member countries.