LAHORE: Speakers at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) South-East Asia Regions` two-day joint conference, that opened at the Punjab Assembly here on Friday, stressed strengthening of the institution of parliament to uphold democratic dispensation.

The event was attended by over 100 representatives from 20 legislatures, including delegations from Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the United Kingdom, Zambia, Malaysia, and Pakistan.

The distinguished guests included 13 speakers, four deputy speakers, and one chairman.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was the chief guest, while CPA Chairperson Dr Christopher Kalila praised the event as a much-needed step for regional parliamentary engagement.

Punjab Assembly Secretary Aamir Habib and CPA Regional Secretary Ms Kashani Anusha led the Branch Secretariat meeting, finalising the agenda focusing on parliamentary democracy, transparent legislation and accountability.

Mr Sadiq highlighted the importance of parliamentary relations in achieving sustaina-ble and inclusive development.

He reaffirmed that knowledgesharing through forums like the CPA moot allows nations to learn from one another and improve governance practices.

He expressed concern about the growing impact of fake news and disinformation, emphasising the parliament`s role in upholding truth and accountability.

Reflecting on past regional conferences, Sadig underscored the importance of strengthening legislative cooperation to address common global challenges, including climate change and governance reforms. He noted that as democratic expectations rise, increased public oversight and a focus on good governance are becoming critical priorities.

In his welcome address, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan emphasised the significance of the conference in fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants.

He acknowledged the presence of former speakers and senior parliamentarians and said that the CPA role in strengthening democracy, good governance, and sustainable development is very important. He highlighted the importance of the role of local governments in addressingthe problems of the common man.

Mr Khan emphasised the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on governance and the economy and called for balanced policies to harness APs potential while mitigating its challenges.

He also stressed the need for addressing legislative gaps to resolve the issues of women, children, persons with disabilities, and minorities, as well as introducing inclusive policies to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Climate change was identified as the most pressing challenge of the era, requiring immediate and coordinated action.

CPA Chairperson Dr Kalila mentioned that the long-standing issue of CPA`s legal status is now nearing resolution as the CPA Status Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons on Dec 18, 2024, and also received royal assent.

CPA Secretary General Mataya said that this is a new opportunity to formulate a strategy by making legislation in a new direction. He emphasised the importance of strengthening and stabilising the parliament.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, UK, Nusrat Ghani, stated that constructive criticismin parliamentary democracy can help improve the democratic system. She highlighted the need to make the platforms of CPA and IPA more effective.

Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah stressed the need to work on class divisions and the rights of minorities. He stated that the conference must be used as a platform to promote regional and global relations.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati regretted that the era of British imperialism was still continuing. In British imperialism, other institutions were made very strong but the parliament was always kept weak, he said, adding that the same method is still prevalent, citing example of Peca Act and the ban on political parties. He said things would improve if the parliament is strengthened.

The conference was also addressed by Malaysian Senator Pelay Peter Tinggom, Deputy Speaker of the People`s Majlis of the Maldives, Ahmed Nazim, Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Senator Anusha Rahman, Zakia Shah Nawaz, Ahmed Iqbal, and others.

Earlier in the session, a special documentary on the Punjab Assembly was also screened.