Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 1 WTO Regime and implications for Pakistan PILDAT Briefing Session for Parliamentarians Welcome Remarks & Introduction

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 2 Briefing Session on WTO  Very warm Welcome to Session Chairs, all Participants, Speakers & Guests. Participants, Speakers & Guests.  Please Check out Contents of the Dossier.  Briefing Paper on WTO included in Dossier  Please complete Feedback Form & Data Form and hand over to the Organizers. Form and hand over to the Organizers.  Acknowledge Support of FES & SDPI Welcome!

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 3 Briefing Session on WTO  Backdrop: 5 th Ministerial Conference  Renewed recognition by IPU & WTO of the significance of Parliaments’ input. Do we?  Overview of WTO Regime: - Introduction & History - Implications for Pakistan  Preparing Pakistan for WTO  Role of Parliament in shaping Pakistan’s position at WTO position at WTO Today’s Session

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 4 Briefing Session on WTO  Enhance awareness about WTO Regime  Help parliamentarians understand implications of WTO for effective legislative debate & oversight  Promote thought process for the future e.g. -A sub-committee on WTO Agreements? -Parliament to ratify the agreements? Objectives

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 5 Briefing Session on WTO  WTO Agreements will impact our Agriculture, Industry, Exports and --- every one. Industry, Exports and --- every one.  Extreme views about WTO: What is the truth?  Pakistan is signing important agreements under WTO. Parliament’s Oversight helpful. under WTO. Parliament’s Oversight helpful.  Should draft agreements be analyzed & debated in Parliament before signing? debated in Parliament before signing? Why discussion on WTO is important ?

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 6 Briefing Session on WTO  Knowledge of the background, process & nature of WTO Agreements nature of WTO Agreements  Knowledge of the implications for Pakistan Today’s Briefing is intended to provide this KNOWLEDGE ! How can a parliamentarian contribute in shaping country position on WTO?

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 7 Briefing Session on WTO  To see parliamentarians effective and powerful (Knowledge is power) powerful (Knowledge is power)  To see Parliament taking all major policy decisions (Supremacy of Parliament) decisions (Supremacy of Parliament)  To see Democracy and Democratic Institutions strengthened in Pakistan Institutions strengthened in Pakistan Why PILDAT holds Briefing Sessions for the Parliament?

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 8 Briefing Session on WTO  Seed money by Overseas Pakistanis  Pilot project funded by UNDP  Seek and accept support from all sources without any covert or overt strings (Pure PILDAT Agenda)  So far events are supported by UNDP, FNS, FES, DFID, The World Bank, IRI etc.  WTO Briefing Session supported by FES & Overseas Pakistanis. Who Funds PILDAT?

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 9 Briefing Session on WTO  Independent, Non-profit, Research & Study institute  Indigenous entity well-versed in local conditions  Strictly Non-partisan: Values trust of all parties  Dedicated to Parliamentary Strengthening  Mission: Strengthening Democracy & Democratic Institutions for a better Pakistan What is PILDAT?

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 10 Briefing Session on WTO  Workshop on the Budget Process  Workshop for MNAs on Devolution  State of Democracy Report  3-part Election Study  Young Parliamentarians Forum  Parliamentary Internship Programme  Workshop for Balochistan MPAs on roles of Federal, Provincial and Local governments Federal, Provincial and Local governments Some Recent Activities

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 11 Briefing Session on WTO  Orientation for Freshmen  Workshop for NWFP MPAs on roles and limits of Federal, Provincial and Local Govts. limits of Federal, Provincial and Local Govts.  Briefing on Pak-India Relations  Workshop on Public Policy Analysis  Briefing on Issues of Water Resources  Workshop on effective committee system Near-future Activities

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 12  1.5 Year-long Consultation with - Former & Current parliamentarians (238) - Former & Current parliamentarians (238) - Political parties - Political parties - National & International Political institutions - National & International Political institutions - O pinion leaders - O pinion leaders - CSOs - CSOs  Questionnaire, Legislators Data Forms  Needs Assessment Session, Dec  Scientific Sample Survey of New MNAs  Legislative Strengthening Conference PILDAT Research & Needs Assessment Briefing Session on WTO

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 13 Briefing Session on WTO  Centre for Legislative Development & Leadership (CLDL) Leadership (CLDL) -Research -Briefings -Orientation -Research -Briefings -Orientation -Capacity Building -Budget Analysis -Capacity Building -Budget Analysis -Policy Analysis -Etc. -Policy Analysis -Etc.  Examples: BIPS (Bangladesh), BPST (India), KPI (Thailand) KPI (Thailand) PILDAT parliamentary Strengthening Plan:

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 14 Briefing Session on WTO  Legislative Capacity Building Project 1.Plan & Establish the Centre 1.Plan & Establish the Centre 2.Sensitize Parliamentarians, CSOs, Voters 2.Sensitize Parliamentarians, CSOs, Voters 3.Strengthen Committee System 3.Strengthen Committee System 4.Capacity-building of Legislative Support Staff 4.Capacity-building of Legislative Support Staff 5.Capacity-building of CSOs 5.Capacity-building of CSOs …….The Plan

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 15 Briefing Session on WTO 6.Overseas Pakistani Legislators Network 6.Overseas Pakistani Legislators Network 7.Institutional Networking (Regional, International) 7.Institutional Networking (Regional, International) 8. Strengthen Parliamentary Parties 8. Strengthen Parliamentary Parties 9.Capacity-building of Parliamentarians 9.Capacity-building of Parliamentarians - Issue-based Workshops - Issue-based Workshops - Briefing Papers & Sessions - Briefing Papers & Sessions - Policy Analysis Sessions - Policy Analysis Sessions - Multi-party Caucuses - Etc. - Multi-party Caucuses - Etc. …….The Plan