Toronto, October 29; The Pakistan Parliamentary delegation called on the Honourable Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly Mr. Steve Peters as a part of initiating a round of two-days� interactions at the Ontario�s Provincial Legislature here at Toronto yesterday.

The energetic and lively Honourable Speaker of the Ontario Legislature welcomed the Pakistani delegates and discussed in detail the working of the Ontario Legislature, its members, and its committees and how the demarcation of roles exists between the federal and provincial legislature and with the local governments.

The Pakistan delegation, that is currently in Canada, began the first of the two days of its interactions and dialogues at the Ontario legislature before concluding the Study Visit in Toronto on Friday, October 29.

The delegation met with the chair of the Ontario Finance and Economic Affairs Committee and discussed in detail the role of the Committee in holding pre-budget hearings, interaction with the public and scrutiny and oversight of the provincial budget.

The Pakistan delegation was acknowledged and welcomed inside the House by the Honourable Speaker as the members clapped on while the delegation viewed the proceedings of the House, especially the Question Hour, from the Speaker�s Gallery.

The delegation interacted on the Committee structure and functions with the clerks of the Committee branch including Mr. Douglas Arnott, Deputy Clerk of Committees and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Estimates; Mr. Trevor Day, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Ms. Sylwia Przezdiecki, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

The delegation also held a detailed interaction with the Deputy Clerk of the Ontario Legislature on various processes, budget of the legislature, etc.

The Pakistan delegation currently in Canada comprises Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA, Chairman, National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), NA-96, Gujranwala-II, Punjab); Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal, MNA, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges (Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), NA-64 Sargodha-I, Punjab); Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, MNA, Chairperson National Assembly Standing Committee on Water and Power (Pakistan peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), NA-214 Nawabshah-II, Sindh); Khawaja Sohail Mansoor, MNA, (Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM); NA-240, Karachi-II, Sindh); Dr. Maqsood Ahmad Malik, Secretary, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab; Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director, PILDAT and Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director, PILDAT.

The Study Visit that has been facilitated by PILDAT jointly with the Parliamentary Centre Canada is part of the Parliamentary and Political Party Strengthening Project (PPPSP) which is funded through the Glyn Berry Program of Canada�s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).