PILDAT appreciates Defence Committee, compares performance with other committees

Date : April 05, 2013

PILDAT launched its report on the performance of the Senate Committee on Defence and Defence Production on the occasion of, ‘Citizens Forum on Democratic Oversight of Defence and National Security: A Performance Evaluation by Citizens.’  Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence, chaired the forum.The report covers the period from June 04 2012 to March 15, 2013 and is a continuation of the analysis of performance prepared by PILDAT earlier. It details the various initiatives taken by the Defence Committee since June 2012 appreciating the enormous improvement in the performance especially after the election of Senator Mushahid Hussain, as its Chairman. Activities including meetings, visits, seminars, public hearings and the publication of 4 reports by the Committee in less than a year have been highlighted in the report.  In comparison with its counter-part committee in the National Assembly, as well as the earlier Defence Committee of the Senate, the report states that there is a marked improvement in efficiency and frequency of meetings held by the Committee. It has set some new traditions such as preparing and approving a work plan, holding public hearings, printing and publishing committee reports and receiving briefings on Defence Budget.  The Committee held 20 activities which include meetings, visits, public hearings and policy seminars in almost 9 months after reconstitution and was the first Committee to launch its website in June 2012 on which details of all activities and minutes of the meetings can be accessed. The Committee also reviewed 6 bills in the said time period. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed while speaking on the occasion appreciated PILDAT for always serving as a link between Parliament and civil society on defence and national security issues. He also acknowledged PILDAT’s support for publishing Senate Defence Committee’s reports since June 2012.'

Click to view the report