Pakistani Parliamentary Delegation to Visit Ireland, Austria for Legislative Exchange

A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation is set to visit Austria and Ireland to study their legislative practices, particularly focusing on the establishment and functioning of Parliamentary Budget Offices (PBOs). The visit is part of the “Support to Parliamentary Development in Pakistan” project, funded by the European Union with a budget of €15 million.

The delegation, comprising 23 prominent members, will be led by Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani and includes Speakers of Provincial Assemblies, Members of Parliament from various political parties, and senior parliamentary secretariat officials.

A pre-departure reception, hosted by EU Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Riina Kionka, highlighted the EU’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s democratic institutions. She emphasized that Austria and Ireland’s PBO models offer valuable insights into independent budgetary analysis and effective parliamentary oversight.

This visit will help Pakistani legislators learn from successful models in Austria and Ireland to establish a Parliamentary Budget Office that ensures transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility,” she stated.

Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani emphasized that the visit reflects Pakistan’s deep ties with the EU and its commitment to strengthening governance. He stated that the experience gained from Austria and Ireland will help develop a framework for an independent PBO in Pakistan.

“By learning from these models, we aim to establish a Parliamentary Budget Office in Pakistan that provides professional, non-partisan, and in-depth economic analysis for informed decision-making,” Gilani said.

He further added that data-driven insights would empower both the federal parliament and provincial assemblies to make better budgetary and fiscal decisions.

The delegation will closely observe the operational models of Austria and Ireland’s PBOs, which were both established in the last decade to enhance budget transparency and parliamentary independence.

– Austria’s PBO (Established in 2012): Strengthens parliament’s role in budgetary discussions through independent financial expertise.
– Ireland’s PBO (Established in 2017): Based on the Westminster system, similar to Pakistan’s governance model, providing independent, impartial economic analysis and advice to parliamentarians.

Welcoming Pakistan’s initiative, Austrian Ambassador to Pakistan, Mrs. Andrea Wicke, stated:
We are delighted to host Pakistan’s delegation and share Austria’s experience in creating an independent budget office.”

Similarly, Deputy Ambassador of Ireland to Pakistan, Mr. Declan Johnston, emphasized the role of high-quality independent advice and analysis in effective economic policymaking.
“Ireland’s PBO provides impartial and independent information to parliamentarians, enabling them to address pivotal economic questions. We are excited to share our experiences with Pakistan as they work towards developing a similar institution,” he said.

The visit aligns with the objectives of Mustehkam Parlimaan, a parliamentary development initiative designed to enhance legislative capacity, strengthen oversight mechanisms, and promote inclusive governance.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Pakistani delegation is expected to develop an action plan for establishing a Parliamentary Budget Office in Pakistan, informed by best practices from Austria and Ireland. This initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring greater transparency and accountability in Pakistan’s fiscal policymaking.