By Shaheen Hashim
KARACHI: After a gap of fourteen years, the Provincial Assembly of Sindh regained a historic role on the international parliamentary stage as Karachi hosted a major regional gathering of lawmakers.
The 7th CPA Asia Regional Conference, held jointly with the 2nd CPA Asia & South-East Asia Regional Conference, was convened in the city under the theme “Parliaments of the Future: Redefining Democracy through Trust, Inclusion, Innovation and Peace,” drawing attention to the evolving challenges faced by legislatures across the region.
The three-day conference brought together more than 150 speakers, deputy speakers, parliamentarians and senior parliamentary officials representing four countries and seventeen legislative assemblies from Asia and South-East Asia. The event marked one of the largest international parliamentary engagements hosted by Sindh in recent years and was seen by organizers as a signal of renewed institutional engagement with global democratic forums.
Delegates participated in a series of inaugural, plenary and breakout sessions that focused on the pressures confronting modern parliaments and the expectations of increasingly connected societies. Discussions centered on rebuilding public trust in democratic institutions, improving transparency and accountability, and ensuring greater inclusion in legislative processes.
Participants also examined the growing impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on governance, alongside concerns about misinformation, fake news and their implications for democratic debate. Climate change, digital governance and regional peace featured prominently, with lawmakers sharing experiences from their respective jurisdictions and exploring areas for cross-regional cooperation.
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