YPF holds workshop to promote post-legislative scrutiny in National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk)- The Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) of the National Assembly on Saturday launched a two-day Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) Workshop aimed at strengthening parliamentary oversight and promoting evidence-based lawmaking in Pakistan.

The workshop was organised in line with the vision of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to enhance post-legislative scrutiny and ensure effective implementation of laws enacted by Parliament.

The initiative is being led by YPF President Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, who said the workshop would equip lawmakers with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to evaluate whether laws are being implemented in their true letter and spirit.

The inaugural session was attended by several Members of the National Assembly, including Raja Osama Sarwar, Shahida Khan, Babar Nawaz Khan, Akhtar Bibi, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, Shamaila Rana, Miqdad Ali Khan, Sadaf Ihsan, Danyal Chaudhary, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi and Neelum Kumari.

The workshop focuses on strengthening Parliament’s oversight role by encouraging continuous evaluation of legislation, identifying implementation gaps, ensuring executive accountability and recommending evidence-based improvements to existing laws.

President YPF Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar inaugurated the workshop and outlined its objectives, while Raja Shoaib Akbar, Executive Director of the Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness, delivered welcome remarks.

Technical sessions on “What and Why of Legislative Scrutiny” and “Evaluating Law Effectiveness” were conducted by Syed Shamoon Hashmi, Special Secretary for Special Initiatives at the National Assembly Secretariat. Participants were briefed on international best practices, legislative oversight tools and methods to assess the implementation and impact of laws.

An interactive session titled “Federal Budget and Youth Challenges” was also held, facilitated by Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives and founder of the Citizens Network for Budget Accountability. The session reviewed the Federal Budget 2026–27 from a youth perspective and discussed Parliament’s role in addressing emerging challenges through budgetary oversight and legislative intervention.

Concluding the first day, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar said institutionalising post-legislative scrutiny was essential for ensuring that laws deliver intended outcomes, safeguard constitutional rights and improve governance.

She said the recommendations emerging from the workshop would help strengthen parliamentary committees and promote a more transparent, responsive and citizen-centric legislative process in Pakistan.