ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khagan Abbasi have observed that Pakistan being a federal state will flourish more when federating units have better representation at the federallevel.

In their separate messages on the eve of the Senate`s 45th foundation day, they noted that this representation was well achieved in the House of Federation where all units had equal representation in terms of number and hence had more protection of their interests and rights.

President Mamnoon Hussain saidthe Senate has been successfully guarding the interests of all the federating units of Pakistan and a stronger upper house would ensure a stronger state of the federal character. The Senate is a permanent house which symbolises a process of continuity in the national aff airs.

The president said that the Senate has reaf firmed its role and commitment for upholding constitutional supremacy by playing a vibrant role within the ambit of the Constitution. The 1973 Constitution gave voice to the long and arduous struggle of the nation for federalism and bicameral parliament bringing the Senate into existence as a house of federation, giving equal representation to the federating units.`I believe that the Senate of Pakistan understands the significance of the task for which it was formed and it will continue working for protecting the interests of both the smaller and larger units` he said.

Prime Minister Shahid Khagan Abbasi said that the upper house is an integral part of parliament and its role in legislative framework of the country by effectively guarding the rights of the federating units was highly praiseworthy.

`Pakistan being a federal state will flourish more when federating units have better representation at the federal level` he said.

In his message, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said that like manyother countries equal powers must be granted to the upper house so that it could effectively raise voice for the federating units when the matter comes to their rights, especially in joint sittings of parliament where in the given situation their voice is gagged in term of number game.

He said over a period of time the Senate has emerged as a defender of the rights of the federating units and jealously guarded encroachments on the devolution of power to the provinces.

This continuous struggle triggered the evolution of Senate as a coequal house, wherein, after the Eighteenth Constitution Amendment, the Senate has effective role and voice not only on the issues of provinces but also in theef fective oversight of the executive.

Mr Rabbani observed that this is a proud day when the Senate celebrates its 45th founding day. It will be a prouder day when the bells of economic and political freedom ring louder from the halls of parliament for the people of this great nation.

Leader of the House Raja Zafar-ulHaq and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan in their messages said that keeping the needs for revisiting legislative competence and parliamentary oversight in view, the Senate this year rose to the occasion and passed a resolution seeking amendments to 11 articles of the Constitution dealing with relationship of centre and provinces.