ISLAMABAD: Acting President and Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday launched the Senate Mobile Application, describing the initiative as a significant step towards digital empowerment, greater institutional efficiency and a more transparent and responsive parliamentary system.
Addressing the launching ceremony at Parliament House, the Acting President said the application marked the beginning of a new era in the Senate’s journey towards digital transformation since its establishment in 1973.
He said the initiative was not merely about launching an application but about introducing “a new way of working, a new way of thinking and a new way of serving the people of Pakistan.”
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the digital initiative would have a transformational impact on the working and performance of the Senate and its Members, while helping build a modern parliamentary institution equipped to meet the demands of the contemporary era.
Reflecting on his own journey in public service, he said parliamentary and governmental processes had traditionally relied heavily on manual systems, with considerable time being consumed by procedures rather than focusing on the ultimate purpose of public service. “That was then. This is now,” he remarked, underscoring the need to embrace technology and innovation.
The Acting President said the Senate Mobile Application represented a strategic shift and a shared commitment to ensuring that the Upper House kept pace with technological advancement.
He said that the Senate Secretariat had already embraced the e-office system with encouraging results, adding that the mobile application was part of a broader digital transformation aimed at saving time, improving efficiency and eliminating unnecessary redundancies.
He emphasized that digitalization was not merely about convenience but about enhancing institutional effectiveness. “When our systems work seamlessly, we can focus on what truly matters: our constitutional roles and functions,” he said.
The Acting President also highlighted the role of technology in strengthening the connection between Parliament and citizens.
He said the Senate’s official website and social media platforms were providing timely information about parliamentary activities, facilitating public feedback and helping counter misinformation.
He added that the expansion of digital archives had made authentic parliamentary information more accessible to parliamentarians, researchers and citizens, contributing to greater transparency and strengthening public trust in democratic institutions.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said digital transformation was not a one-time initiative but an ongoing journey. Quoting Neil Armstrong, he said, “This is one small step in Senate digitization efforts, but one giant leap for parliamentary democracy keeping pace with modern times.”
The Acting President stressed that innovation should not be pursued for its own sake, but should serve the broader objective of making democracy more transparent, effective and closer to the people.
He said the launch of the Senate Mobile Application was a step towards a more modern, efficient and responsive Senate that served the people of Pakistan with dignity and effectiveness.
He urged Senators to fully embrace the new technology and utilize it to further enhance their parliamentary work and engagement with citizens.
Acting Chairman of the Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar said the launch of the Senate mobile application marked an important milestone in the institution’s parliamentary journey and reflected a major change in its working methods.
He said t
he application was not merely a new technological facility but part of a broader effort to modernise the Senate’s internal systems.
The Acting Chairman said technology was transforming the way legislatures around the world functioned and Pakistan could not remain behind in this journey.
“Transparency, accountability, timely action and access to accurate information are essential requirements of a strong parliamentary system,” he said.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said the launch of the Senate mobile application marked another meaningful step towards modernising the way Parliament worked and engaged with its members and citizens.
The minister said the initiative represented more than the adoption of a new digital tool, reflecting a broader institutional commitment to making Parliament more accessible, efficient and responsive.
He said a modern Parliament must not only make good laws but also have modern systems through which parliamentary work could be conducted, organised, recorded and communicated.
Dr Tariq Fazal said the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs had a key role in strengthening institutional links between Parliament and the government, facilitating parliamentary business and promoting transparency, coordination and effective governance.
On the occasion, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja welcomed the digitisation efforts of Parliament, saying digital transformation would make the institution more efficient, transparent and responsive.
She said the government’s digital transformation agenda had three major aspects: digital economy, digital society and digital governance.
She said that under digital governance, the digital transformation of all government and public-sector institutions was a core agenda.
Shaza Fatima said the Digital Nation Pakistan Act was passed by the Senate and National Assembly last year, under which the Pakistan Digital Authority was formed.
She said digital transformation was no longer limited to the IT sector but had become a cross-sectoral element. The minister said technological transformation was a paradigm shift affecting everyday life, health, education, finance and national security, with systems such as EdTech, GovTech and FinTech emerging rapidly.
She said the Senate’s participation in the digital transformation process and bringing governance to technology would not only make the institution more efficient but also improve transparency and efficacy and empower senators.
Shaza Fatima said the initiative was not merely about launching a mobile application but represented a wider process of digitisation.
Secretary Syed Hasnain Haider briefed participants on the aims and objectives of the Senate of Pakistan App, saying the Senate’s IT Department developed the application.
He said the application would also support the Senate’s efforts to modernise its working procedures and adopt digital technologies for more efficient dissemination of parliamentary information.
