ABOUT US
PILDAT is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit indigenous think tank focussed on political and public policy research and legislative strengthening. As an indigenous institution, Its mission is to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan.
PILDAT is a premier research organization of Pakistan focusing on democracy, governance and public policy. Founded in 2001, the organisation focuses on producing objective, research-based analysis on policies especially under review by the Parliament and the Executive.
PILDAT conducts research on issues including finance, economy, poverty-reduction, regional/international trade, foreign/regional relations, political-economy, inter-provincial relations/federalism, women/youth in politics, etc. PILDAT prepares legislative Briefs on key legislations in consideration before the Parliament. PILDAT has held over 200 capacity-building and issue-based briefings for Parliament and Provincial Assemblies since 2002. It has also prepared over 300 briefing/background papers, case studies and other publications on public policy and legislative issues. PILDAT assists key Standing Committees in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the discharge of their responsibilities of oversight and scrutiny of the Executive through capacity building and background research. PILDAT also provides forums for comparative political and parliamentary learning through regional and international conferences and organizing study visits to other Parliaments.
PILDAT carries out periodic performance review of Parliament and Provincial Assemblies. We facilitate formation of policy groups for research and dialogue on issues including Civil-Military Relations, Electoral Reforms, Relations between Muslims and Western World, FATA Status, Centre-Province Relations , etc. PILDAT also launched the first-ever Youth Parliament Pakistan to inculcate culture and values of democracy in youth and to prepare them for future leadership roles. PILDAT has hosted many national and international conferences, workshops and forums involving national, regional and international leaders, subject specialists and policy experts. In its independent capacity, PILDAT works closely with the Parliament and through its non-partisan approach, with major political parties as well as the Executive and the Media.
PILDAT is a registered non-profit entity under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, Pakistan. Its formal registration process was completed on September 19, 2002.
MISSION
PILDAT will work for strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan by building the capability of and instituting non-partisan monitoring framework for the elected representatives and legislatures while facilitating greater participation of all segments of the society in the democratic process and development of new political leadership.
BACKGROUND & RATIONALE
PILDAT was established in 2001 by a group of non-resident and resident Pakistanis active in the field of social development such as primary and IT education and health in Pakistan since 1995. The creation of PILDAT came about as a realisation through the earlier initiatives that investments in social sector development alone would not achieve desired results until significant contribution is made in the area of strengthening democratic governance in Pakistan.
PILDAT was created so as to contribute towards strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan as a key conduit for strengthening democratic governance. PILDAT places a major focus on legislative capability-building and strengthening; quality non-partisan political research; political leadership development; creation of avenues for a pluralistic and participatory citizen involvement into democratic decision-making; performance monitoring of democratic actors and institutions and education in democracy and political management.
EXPERTISE
PILDAT works to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions through the following key programmes. The list of programmes is dynamic and is expanded and adjusted according to the needs.
Political Research Programme: Quality political research, completely objective and non-partisan, remains a cross-cutting theme through all streams of PILDAT work. Objective and non-partisan quality political research is carried out in the shape of Briefing Papers, Background Papers, Case Studies, Reports and Directories for the benefit of legislators, legislative staff, political parties, the media, civil society organisations and the public.
Public Legislative Forums: Involves holding of public discussion and dialogue on legislative performance of the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies and legislation under consideration or passed by the legislatures. The forum is a means to sensitise civil society, media and the public to get involved in democratic decision making and legislative issues and gauge and gather public input on those. Through this forum, opinions of various sections of society are channelled to the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies.
Legislative Strengthening Programme for Legislators and Legislative Staff: A flagship programme area of PILDAT through which legislative capability-building and strengthening efforts are made using tools such as technical and policy issues-based Briefings, Training Workshops; Roundtable Discussions and Legislative Study Visits, etc.
Policy Dialogue Programme: Creation of avenues of pluralistic political discourse, policy review and dialogue on areas such as Civil Military Relations is a hallmark of PILDAT's work towards strengthening democracy. Major areas under this programme include a Dialogue on Civil-Military Relations, a PILDAT initiative since 2004, efforts towards Parliamentary oversight of the defence sector and sharing of international Case studies and best practises to achieve the objective. We also facilitate formation of policy groups for research and dialogue on issues including Electoral Reforms, Relations between Muslims and the Western World, FATA Status, Centre-Province Relations , etc.
Democracy Watch Programme: PILDAT's Democracy Watch Programme emanates from its focus on transparency. With periodic analysis and reports on the State of Democracy in Pakistan, the programme also analyses working of the Parliament and Provincial Assemblies and related areas.
Political Parties Programme: Focused on strengthening political parties for a strengthened democracy in the country, this programme undertakes national and international training and sensitisation of political party office-bearers and personnel, and provides avenues for dialogue and briefings in this regard.
Youth Leadership Development Programme: PILDAT launched the first-ever Youth Parliament Pakistan to inculcate culture and values of democracy in youth and to prepare them for future leadership roles. In addition, PILDAT facilitated the formation of the Young Parliamentarians Forum Pakistan, a multi-party group of young MPs, in the 12th National Assembly of Pakistan, now carried forward to the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Javed Nawaz: Acting Chairman
Board of Directors
Mr. Javed Nawaz is the Managing Director of AgroDev in Oman. He has
served on the Executive Committee of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(1980-1983). He established 3 schools while he was the Chairman Board of Governors,
Pakistan College, Muscat. He is a Law Graduate and has a post graduate degree
in Business and Statistics. Mr. Nawaz was member of the First Group Study Exchange
Team sponsored by Rotary International to visit California, USA in 1974.
Mr. Abdul Latif Mirza: Board Member
Mr. Abdul Latif Mirza has served as Manager Production Support, Technology
Services, Saudi Hollandi Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Head, EDP Saudi Hollandi
Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is currently based in North America.
Mr. Ismet Amin Khawaja: Board Member
Mr. Ismet Amin Khawaja is General Manager for Foundations Building Contracting
Company, Ltd. He is Chairman of the Institution of Engineers Pakistan, Eastern
Province Sub-Centre, Saudi Arabia. In October 2001, he was appointed Honorary
Investment Counselor for Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia by the Board of Investment,
Government of Pakistan. Mr. Khawaja has been involved in a number of international
projects.
Mr. Mohammad Haroon:
Board Member
Mr. Mohammad Haroon is Senior Vice President / Assistant General
Manager at United Gulf Bank, Bahrain. He has served as an Investment Banker
at Investment Corporation of Pakistan at Karachi and Peshawar; Manager, Senior
Manager (Development), Acting Zonal Head, Senior Manager (Credit &
Marketing for Gulf); and as Commercial Manager, National Bank of Pakistan, Peshawar,
Abbotabad and Bahrain, 1974-1981.
Mr. Mohammad Jameel Bajwa: Board
Member
Mr. Mohammad Jameel Bajwa is Vice President at the National Engineering Services
of Pakistan (NESPAK), one of the largest multi-disciplinary consulting firms
in Pakistan. His expertise is in Infrastructure Development. He has worked in
Nigeria as Project Manager of Kaduna State Housing Authority and has executed
mega-scale projects in his field including housing projects in Pakistan and
abroad.
Mrs. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi: Board Member
Mrs. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi started her career as an educationist and joined the International Relations Department of the University of Sindh in 1973. Later, she went to University of Massachusetts USA on Fulbright scholarship to pursue Masters in International Relations. Her decision to travel abroad for advanced studies was her determination to rise above ordinary. After completing her second Master’s degree, she joined as the Chairperson of International Relations Department, University of Sindh at Jamshoro. Her administrative career has been outstanding. She also served as Director Institute of Sindhology and Regional Director, University Grants Commission, at Jamshoro. Sindh Government acquired her services in 1988. It is significant to note that she has not only worked on many important positions with the Sindh Government, but also has the honour of being the first-ever woman secretary in the history of the Sindh secretariat, where she served as Secretary Culture & Tourism, Youth affairs & Sports, Director General Environmental Protection Agency, Secretary Social Welfare and Women Development, Secretary Education, Director General Provincial Ombudsmen Secretariat, Secretary Information and Secretary Inter-Provincial Coordination. Presently, she is working as Executive Director of HUM Television Network, Ltd. She contributes articles to various leading journals and weeklies of Sindhi, English, and Urdu languages on Social issues, Environment, International Relations and Culture. Her book on “Indo-Pak Relations” was published in 1989.
Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob: President
and Secretary General BOD
The founder President of PILDAT, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob has over 25 years experience
in senior management and advisory positions and over 8 years experience in design,
planning and implementation of projects in the field of Parliamentary development,
strengthening democratic institutions, democratisation, political discourse,
election monitoring and dialogues for reconciliation. Mr. Mehboob is considered
an authority on political, legislative and electoral affairs of the country.
YOUTH PARLIAMENT PAKISTAN CERTIFIED TRADE MARK
