Towards‘Good’ Economic Governance Role of Standing Parliamentary Committees Standing Committees have been constituted in both the National Assembly and in the Senate. These committees are effectively fora where policy issues should be initially discussed in detail and solutions proposed. Each Ministry has a relevant Committee which checks the performance of the Ministry and holds it accountable for its actions. A strong and active committee system is an asset for any functioning democracy. It enhances accountability by making the policy and administrative functions of government more open and transparent. Committees ought to investigate public issues and bridge the gulf between people and the Parliament. There are 34 Standing Committees in the National Assembly and 50 Committees in the Senate. From the viewpoint of economic governance, the Committees mentioned below can play important roles. It is essential that participation in the Committees from Government should be at the appropriate level. Proposed policies should be whetted by the Committees. For example, the Medium-term Budgetary Framework recently finalized by the Federal cabinet should have been placed first before the NA and Senate Finance Committees before presentation to the full Parliament, as per the requirement of the FRDL. Economic Standing Committees National Assembly Senate • Commerce • Poverty Alleviation& Social Safety • Energy • Power • Finance& Revenue • Finance, Revenue& Economic Affairs • Economic Affairs • Commerce • Industries& Production • Problems of Less Developed Areas • Planning, Development& Special Initiatives • Planning, Development& Special Initiatives • Power • Overseas Pakistanis& HRD • National Health Services • Devolution There is a need for technical support to the members of committees on complex and specialized areas of policy. As such, the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services(PIPS) must be adequately strengthened. The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency(PILDAT) should also be assigned a proper role. 2.4. Institutional Strengthening of Economic Ministries There was a time when the Planning Commission was the premier economic institution at the Federal Level. This was the time when five-year plans and Perspective Plans were in vogue and policies were chosen within the framework of these Plans. 23