Parliament House taking steps to go green
Will be generating its own energy through solar power units
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly might not be a glass house, but the occupants are not taking any chances. In an apparent bid to lead by example, the Parliament House has taken radical steps to adopt environment-friendly practices including use of solar energy and a ‘paperless environment’.
Sources in National Assembly told The Express Tribune that Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has taken several initiatives in this regard and is eagerly pursuing their implementation.
The initiatives include use of SMS service for intimation of members of parliament, installation of LCD monitors for MPs, changing existing lights with LEDs and energy savers and installation of solar power generation system.
According to sources, the NA secretariat has already started the service in which the MNAs are informed about every single piece of information, needed to be delivered to them, through the use of SMS service.
The SMS service, working for last couple of months, delivers information about the timings of the session, committee meetings and other development.
The secretariat has started work on installation of computers in the offices of secretariat staff to reduce the use of paper. “It is perhaps difficult to have a paperless office but we would definitely have an office with less use of paper,” a senior official said.
Similarly, an LCD monitor/screen will be installed at the seat of every MNA and Senator to keep the members updated about agenda set for the proceedings, legislative business and other information.
The move will also help Secretariat reduce complaints – which sometimes emerge during the proceedings – that lawmakers are not provided with bills introduced in the house.
Pakistan has signed an agreement with China and a letter, signed by the NA speaker, has already been exchanged for installation of the solar power generation system at the Parliament House, making it the first parliament to go green.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.
The National Assembly might not be a glass house, but the occupants are not taking any chances. In an apparent bid to lead by example, the Parliament House has taken radical steps to adopt environment-friendly practices including use of solar energy and a ‘paperless environment’.
Sources in National Assembly told The Express Tribune that Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has taken several initiatives in this regard and is eagerly pursuing their implementation.
The initiatives include use of SMS service for intimation of members of parliament, installation of LCD monitors for MPs, changing existing lights with LEDs and energy savers and installation of solar power generation system.
According to sources, the NA secretariat has already started the service in which the MNAs are informed about every single piece of information, needed to be delivered to them, through the use of SMS service.
The SMS service, working for last couple of months, delivers information about the timings of the session, committee meetings and other development.
The secretariat has started work on installation of computers in the offices of secretariat staff to reduce the use of paper. “It is perhaps difficult to have a paperless office but we would definitely have an office with less use of paper,” a senior official said.
Similarly, an LCD monitor/screen will be installed at the seat of every MNA and Senator to keep the members updated about agenda set for the proceedings, legislative business and other information.
The move will also help Secretariat reduce complaints – which sometimes emerge during the proceedings – that lawmakers are not provided with bills introduced in the house.
Pakistan has signed an agreement with China and a letter, signed by the NA speaker, has already been exchanged for installation of the solar power generation system at the Parliament House, making it the first parliament to go green.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.