Pakistan LEgiSLATIVE STRENGTHENING PROJECT  

 PLSP is a two-year initiative funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented under contract by Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) with local and international partners.  The project works with the National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan and the provincial assemblies of NWFP, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. The project was  Initiated in September 2005 and  will operate until September  2007.

Program activities in each of the legislatures are focused around four general technical areas.  The implementation of PLSP will ensure activities tailored to the specific needs of each assembly as well as those which apply to all or are transferable to other legislatures. The main components of the PLSP include:

Representation – Assisting Pakistani legislatures provide information to the public and receive input from citizens during the legislative process.

Issues addressed include: media coverage of parliament, public hearings, parliamentary websites, dissemination of legislative records, parliamentary public relation strategies.

Law Making – Assisting Pakistani legislatures, including members and staff, improve the structures and mechanisms by which legislation is analyzed, debated, and passed.

Issues addressed include: committee structures, library  and research, legislative drafting and development of a Parliamentary Institute for Legislative Studies(PILS)

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Oversight/Accountability – Assisting Pakistani legislatures oversee government operations, particularly in the area of budget formulation and implementation.

Issues addressed include: question period, budget process and scrutiny, public auditing

Management /Infrastructure– Assisting Pakistani legislatures improve the day-to-day management and operation of the legislative processes.

Issues addressed include: strategic service delivery, systems development and management, equipment and hardware and software improvements, achieving and legislative records management.

The main PLSP program office is located in Islamabad with representatives in residence in each of the four provincial capitals. Project technical staff addresses the main project components working together with the counterparts at the National Assembly and senate as well as coordinate and support the work with counterparts at the provincial level.  Provincial coordinators manage the respective provincial programs providing liaison with Provincial Assembly leadership and staff and tailoring activities to meet the specific Provincial Assembly needs. International specialist are engaged to address specific technical areas, providing a comparative context.