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CHARTING A COLLABORATIVE FUTURE
The development of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in Pakistan and its hosting of the 1st Joint CPA Asia and CPA South-East Asia Regional Conference.
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in Pakistan was originally constituted in 1897 and has evolved through colonial, post-independence and modern democratic phases. The Punjab Assembly has undergone numerous transformations - from a colonial council to a modern unicameral Legislature.
The Punjab Assembly became a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in 1954 and with 371 Members of the Legislature (297 general Members, 66 women Members and eight representing minority groups), it is one of the largest Provincial Legislatures in the Commonwealth. Since joining the CPA in 1954, the Punjab Assembly has been an active CPA Branch, advancing inclusive legislative practices and democratic innovation.
The CPA Punjab Branch recently hosted the 1st Joint CPA Asia and CPA South-East Asia Regional Conference in Lahore, Pakistan from 6 to 10 February 2025, attended by over 100 Commonwealth Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from across the two CPA Regions and representing 22 Legislatures. This was also the first international event hosted by Punjab Assembly in over 50 years, since it last hosted the 1974 Islamic Summit. The Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) was in attendance, making this CPA Regional Conference his first official visit since being elected as CPA Chairperson at the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in November 2024.
The Punjab Assembly is the first Provincial Legislature in Pakistan to host a CPA Regional Conference on this scale and international participation. The CPA Asia Region has hosted ten major regional conferences since 2000, with venues including Kolkata, Colombo, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Karachi, and Islamabad. The previous CPA Asia Regional Conference was held in 2019 in Islamabad.
The Joint CPA Asia and CPA SouthEast Asia Regional Conference was held on the theme of ‘Parliamentary Strategies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Futures in Asia and South-East Asia’.
The CPA Regional Conference was addressed by the Speaker of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, Hon. Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, with the unanimous adoption of the Lahore Charter by delegates committing to democratic accountability and sustainable and inclusive Legislatures. The Lahore Charter is a forward-looking, 22-point declaration committing member Parliaments to principles of democratic accountability, inclusive governance, climate resilience, responsible digital regulation and equitable development. The Charter affirms the enduring value of parliamentary dialogue in tackling today’s complex regional and global challenges. The Punjab Assembly played a critical role in facilitating inclusive, forward looking parliamentary dialogue at this conference.
Other sessions held at the CPA Regional Conference included:
• ‘Collaborative Legislation for Inclusive and Equitable Development’ which saw the Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Hon. Nusrat Ghani, MP and panelists from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Selangor speak about representation, fostering inclusivity and strengthening legislative mechanisms to empower underrepresented groups.
• ‘AI, Misinformation and Digital Governance’ which shared practical approaches for legislating for ethical use of Artificial Intelligence and countering disinformation.
• ‘Local Governance Reforms’ with presentations on local governance initiatives such as Punjab’s new two-tier local government model and examples from Sri Lanka and Sindh.
• ‘Climate Action and Resilient Cities’ focused on legislative responses climate change in cities such as tackling smog, water scarcity and environmental vulnerabilities as well as legislative frameworks for sustainable urban planning, including green infrastructure.
• ‘Health and Education Equity’ outlined innovative reforms in these policy areas, such as the integrated education framework (PECTA) and expanded rural healthcare outreach.
As a hub for legislative development, the CPA Regional Conference also marked the continuing role of the CPA Asia Region in fostering parliamentary excellence through capacity-building, policy exchange and the promotion of democratic norms.
The Lahore Charter stands as more than a symbolic declaration. It is a practical, action-oriented framework for Legislatures across Asia and South-East Asia to advance the values of democracy, inclusion, and sustainable governance. The journey continues - but in Lahore, a new chapter began.
