Islamabad, December 16: PILDAT today launched individual websites of 15 MNAs from across Pakistan as a pilot project to enhance the access of public and the media to their elected public representatives. Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, and part of the 15 MNAs whose websites have been created and are being maintained by PILDAT, formally launched the websites.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi said that it was a very exciting moment for him, both as MNA and as Deputy Speaker, to launch the first-ever websites of the Members of the National Assembly. Expressing his gratitude to PILDAT for its initiative and its support to Parliament and Members of the National Assembly in this regard, he said that these websites provide MNAs with a platform that can project their activities relating to issues of public concern. MNAs can use these websites to strengthen their links with constituents directly as well as highlight their work and our contribution to the media. He said that the National Assembly would also like to create separate web pages of each MNA on the National Assembly website.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director of PILDAT, said that the websites have been created as a part of PILDAT initiative to promote understanding of the roles and responsibilities of MNAs. PILDAT is working with 15 selected MNAs, from across Pakistan and belonging to different political parties, to strengthen these MNAs� constituency relations and their roles and responsibilities. As a part of this project, PILDAT is holding Focus Group Discussions and Open Public Meetings in each of these 15 MNAs� constituencies in addition to creating and maintaining these MNAs� websites. In order to enhance learning and understanding of these MNAs on how western MPs conduct their constituency relations and manage their Parliamentary responsibilities, PILDAT also facilitated a week-long study tour of these MNAs to UK. As part of the Study Tour, held in the first week of November 2008, Pakistani MNAs learnt about the working of British Parliament at Westminster and were also paired with various British MPs to observe constituency relations of British MPs. PILDAT has also provided for a Constituency Coordinator each in the constituency of each of these 15 MNAs to coordinate the MNA�s activity in the constituency. PILDAT has the support of the British High Commission, Islamabad in conducting this project.

The 15 selected MNAs and their websites include:

Faisal Karim Kundi (NWFP, PPPP):   http://www.faisalkarimkundi.com