ISLAMABAD: Acting President and Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday launched the Senate Mobile Application, calling it an important step towards digital empowerment, greater efficiency and a more transparent parliamentary system.
Addressing the launch ceremony at Parliament House, Gilani said the application marked a new phase in the Senate’s digital transformation journey. The Senate has served as Pakistan’s Upper House since its establishment in 1973.
New Approach to Parliamentary Work
Gilani said the initiative went beyond simply introducing a mobile application. He described it as “a new way of working, a new way of thinking and a new way of serving the people of Pakistan.”
The Acting President said digital technology would transform the Senate’s working methods and improve the performance of its members. It would also help the institution meet the demands of the modern era.
Reflecting on his public service career, Gilani noted that parliamentary and government processes had traditionally depended heavily on manual systems. Those procedures often consumed significant time and resources.
“That was then. This is now,” he remarked, stressing the need to embrace technology and innovation.
Senate Expands Digital Systems
The Senate Secretariat has already adopted the e-office system, which has produced encouraging results, according to Gilani.
The new mobile application forms part of a wider digital transformation programme. It aims to save time, improve efficiency and remove unnecessary duplication from parliamentary processes.
“When our systems work seamlessly, we can focus on what truly matters: our constitutional roles and functions,” he said.
Gilani also stressed that digitalisation should improve institutional effectiveness rather than simply provide convenience.
Connecting Parliament With Citizens
Technology can also strengthen the relationship between Parliament and the public, Gilani said.
The Senate’s official website and social media platforms already provide timely information about parliamentary activities. They also allow citizens to provide feedback and help address misinformation.
In addition, expanded digital archives have made authentic parliamentary information easier to access. Parliamentarians, researchers and citizens can use these resources, helping improve transparency and public confidence in democratic institutions.
Quoting Neil Armstrong, Gilani said, “This is one small step in Senate digitization efforts, but one giant leap for parliamentary democracy keeping pace with modern times.”
Senators Urged to Embrace Technology
Gilani stressed that innovation should serve a wider purpose. He said technology must help make democracy more transparent, effective and closer to the people.
He described the mobile application as a step towards a modern and responsive Senate. Gilani also urged Senators to fully adopt the new technology and use it to improve parliamentary work and engagement with citizens.
Acting Chairman Highlights Transparency
Acting Chairman of the Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar described the application as an important milestone in the Senate’s parliamentary journey.
He said the new platform reflected a major change in the institution’s working methods. The application, he added, formed part of a broader effort to modernise the Senate’s internal systems.
Nasar said technology was changing the way legislatures operated around the world. Pakistan, therefore, could not remain behind.
“Transparency, accountability, timely action and access to accurate information are essential requirements of a strong parliamentary system,” he said.
Government Backs Digital Parliament
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary welcomed the launch and described it as another step towards modernising Parliament.
He said the application represented more than a new digital tool. Instead, it reflected a broader commitment to making Parliament more accessible, efficient and responsive.
According to the minister, a modern Parliament must not only make effective laws. It must also have modern systems to conduct, organise, record and communicate parliamentary work.
Dr Tariq Fazal said the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs plays an important role in strengthening links between Parliament and the government. It also facilitates parliamentary business and promotes transparency, coordination and effective governance.
Shaza Fatima Highlights Digital Governance
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja also welcomed Parliament’s digitisation efforts.
She said digital transformation would make the institution more efficient, transparent and responsive. According to her, the government’s digital transformation agenda has three major areas: the digital economy, digital society and digital governance.
Under digital governance, the government aims to digitally transform public-sector institutions.
Shaza Fatima noted that the Senate and National Assembly passed the Digital Nation Pakistan Act last year. The legislation also led to the formation of the Pakistan Digital Authority.
She explained that digital transformation now extends beyond the IT sector. Technology increasingly affects health, education, finance, everyday life and national security.
Systems such as EdTech, GovTech and FinTech are also developing rapidly, she added.
The minister said the Senate’s participation in digital transformation would improve efficiency and transparency. It would also strengthen the effectiveness of parliamentary work and empower Senators.
She stressed that the initiative was not simply about launching an application. Instead, it represented part of a much wider digitisation process.
IT Department Develops Senate App
Secretary Syed Hasnain Haider briefed participants about the aims and objectives of the Senate of Pakistan App.
He said the Senate’s IT Department developed the application. The platform will support efforts to modernise working procedures and expand the use of digital technologies.
The application will also help the Senate disseminate parliamentary information more efficiently, further advancing the institution’s digital transformation.
