Senate introduces mobile app to boost digital governance

Mettis Global reported that the Senate of Pakistan has rolled out a new mobile application intended to make parliamentary information easier for the public to reach. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who serves as acting president and chairman of the Senate, opened the app at Parliament House on Tuesday. He described it as an important step in the Upper House's move to a digital setup, with the aim of improving services for citizens.

The Senate, founded in 1973, has long relied on manual methods for many of its functions, and officials said digitisation could cut the hours and funds consumed by administrative work. The app is part of a wider programme that already includes an e-office system and digital archives of authenticated records. Gilani also argued that official information available online could help counter misinformation. Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja tied the launch to the government's digital agenda, citing the Digital Nation Pakistan Act passed last year and the later creation of the Pakistan Digital Authority. Senate Secretary Syed Hasnain Haider said the Senate's IT Department developed the application.