Facilitation centre opens at parliament

One-stop counter aids newly elected NA members

ISLAMABAD:

A one-window facilitation centre has been established in the Parliament House for the newly elected members of the 16th National Assembly of Pakistan.

The facilitation centre has been set up in Committee Room No 2 of the Parliament House.

This centre, adorned with banners welcoming the new members on behalf of Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, comprises eight counters where pictures of the members are being taken.

They are also being provided with a booklet regarding the rules and regulations of the National Assembly.

The new members are being informed that as members of the National Assembly, they can apply for diplomatic—blue—passports for themselves, their spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 28 years of age.

With this passport, they can travel to 46 countries without a visa, but they will receive this passport after taking oath.
Details of the returning candidates’ bank accounts are being collected at these counters.

In these accounts, these members will receive their salaries and other monetary benefits.

At the parliamentary forum desk, they are asked which of the four different forums present in parliament they would like to join.

These include women's rights, children's rights, youth development and welfare, and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) forums.

An International Relations desk has also been set up in this one-window facilitation centre, where details are being recorded regarding the political affiliations, education, and international travel of the new members.

The personnel present at the IR desk stated that based on the information, profiles of the assembly members will be created, which will be published on the National Assembly's website. Additionally, their participation in future international
forums or conferences will be determined based on these details.

The National Assembly card is provided to the assembly members in the same room. The National Assembly officials stated that this facilitation centre will remain open even on Sunday (today).