Islamabad, June 18,2026: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of Senate employees and the modernization of parliamentary operations, chairing separate high-level meetings at Parliament House on strengthening the Employees Welfare Fund and reviewing progress on the Senate Secretariat’s flagship mobile application project.
Presiding over a meeting of the Executive Committee for the Employees Welfare Fund, Chairman Senate emphasized that the welfare of Senate employees remains one of the institution’s foremost priorities and directed that the fund be further strengthened, expanded, and made more effective to provide greater support to deserving staff members.
During the meeting, Secretary Senate Syed Hasnain Haider briefed participants on the functioning of the welfare fund, explaining that it operates entirely through voluntary contributions from Senators and Senate employees. The fund provides immediate financial assistance to employees in Grades 1 to 15 in cases of marriage, bereavement and other emergency situations.
Chairman Senate observed that salaries of both Senators and Senate employees have increased over time and noted that the fund’s financial structure and operational framework should be reviewed to maximize its impact and enable a larger number of employees to benefit from welfare assistance.
To increase participation, he directed that voluntary contribution forms be recirculated among all Members of the Senate, allowing interested members to contribute according to their convenience.
The Secretary Senate also briefed the committee on the welfare fund’s policy framework and mechanisms for disbursing financial assistance. During the discussion, Chairman Senate proposed consultations with insurance companies to explore sustainable and innovative welfare models that could further strengthen support mechanisms for Senate employees.
To formulate recommendations for improving the welfare system, a sub-committee comprising Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Nasir Mehmood Butt and Aamir Waliuddin Chishti was constituted. The committee will submit its recommendations to the main executive body for consideration.
During the meeting, Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti proposed that Senate employees should be provided opportunities to perform Hajj, similar to employees of other public-sector institutions. He announced personal financial support for sending two employees on Hajj and pledged to contribute Rs100,000 per month from his salary to the Employees Welfare Fund.
Later, Chairman Senate chaired a separate meeting to review progress on the development of the Senate Mobile Application, a key initiative aimed at accelerating the Senate Secretariat’s transition toward digital governance.
Secretary Senate Syed Hasnain Haider briefed the meeting on the application’s development, key features and anticipated benefits for parliamentary business and institutional efficiency.
The application, developed entirely through the Senate Secretariat’s internal resources and professional expertise, is part of a broader vision to modernize parliamentary operations through technology-driven reforms. Officials described the initiative as a significant milestone in the Senate’s digital transformation agenda and an example of institutional innovation, self-reliance and efficient utilization of public resources.
Chairman Senate said the initiative aligns with the Senate Secretariat’s broader objective of promoting the E-Office system and strengthening digital governance practices within Parliament.
He stressed that digitalization is essential for enhancing administrative efficiency, improving transparency and ensuring timely access to information. He further noted that reducing reliance on paper-based systems would minimize administrative delays, lower operational costs and contribute to environmental sustainability.
According to the briefing, the user-friendly mobile application will provide Senators with secure access to parliamentary affairs and official information through smartphones and tablets. Members will be able to access Senate proceedings, legislative business, standing committee information, official notifications, parliamentary documents, schedules and other important institutional resources in real time.
Officials informed the meeting that special emphasis has been placed on security, accessibility and ease of use to ensure a seamless experience for Members of the Upper House.
Chairman Senate appreciated the efforts of Senate Secretariat officers and the technical team involved in the project, describing the application as an important step toward building a digitally empowered Senate capable of meeting modern governance challenges.
He said the adoption of technology would save time and resources while improving institutional performance and enhancing the quality of public service delivery.
The meeting was informed that the formal launch ceremony of the Senate Mobile Application will be held in the near future. Following its launch, training and awareness sessions will be organized for Senators to ensure effective utilization of all features of the platform.
Reaffirming his commitment to modern governance and institutional reform, Chairman Senate said the Senate Secretariat would continue pursuing innovation, digital transformation and sustainable administrative reforms in line with evolving parliamentary requirements.
