Senate panel questions PIDE's objectives

Says its focus should be on producing economists

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures expressed strong disapproval over criticism from Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) and emphasised the need to enhance the effectiveness of PIDE's objectives.

The Committee urged PIDE to prepare a policy paper outlining its goals and share it with the Standing Committee. The Committee Chairman, Senator Taj Haider, stated that PIDE's primary purpose was to produce economists and not to criticise elected institutions. The Senate Standing Committee meeting was chaired by Senator Haider.

The committee reviewed a report published in a national English newspaper by PIDE's researcher, Saddam Hussain, regarding the 'cost of Parliament members'. Senator Saadia Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had submitted a privilege motion against PIDE over the article.

Dr Nadeem Javed, the Vice-Chancellor of PIDE, briefed the Committee, clarifying that PIDE's objective was never to disrespect members of Parliament. He emphasised that PIDE is a research organisation. In response to Senator Abbasi's question about whether PIDE had fulfilled its mission of producing economists, the Vice-Chancellor stated that PIDE is contributing to the improvement of the economy within its mandate and that a board meeting will be held soon to further enhance the effectiveness of PIDE's objectives.

Senator Haider remarked that PIDE's mission was to produce economists, and the Committee Chairman inquired about the work done to promote good governance, especially economic governance. Senator Abbasi suggested that instead of criticising elected institutions, PIDE should focus on producing economists and channelling them into government institutions.

In other discussions, Senator Irfan Siddiqui's proposed amendments regarding the rules of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Senate meetings were approved. Since Fata has merged with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the committee agreed to remove the term "Fata" from the rules.

Additionally, Senator Siddiqui's proposal to announce the names of the Panel of Chairs at the start of a session in the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman was also accepted. The National Assembly already follows this practice, and the Senate will adopt it as well.