ISLAMABAD: United Nations Development Program, UNDP-Somalia and UNDP-Pakistan arranged the first-ever Somalia-Pakistan Ministerial Study Tour on Federalism, Devolution, and State-Building from 20 to 27 December. The team attended the learning sessions, seminars and visited various institutions like PIPS, NADRA, the National Assembly of Pakistan and others.
The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MOIFAR) of Somalia was leading the visit of ministers from the federal government and federal member states including the Banadir Regional Administration’s (BRA) representatives.
Somalia’s Federal Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation Ahmed Moallim Fiqi was the lead focal person of the study tour.
On the concluding day of the study tour, the delegation met the Resident Representative of UNDP, Pakistan, Aliona Niculita, and her team. It briefed them about its activities and lessons learned during the sessions with Pakistani experts and state institutions.
On the occasion, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi told the UNDP representatives that his delegation learned that federalism is an everlasting process that never ends and they should keep improving it.
He said that his colleagues learned practical things about the constitution review process and they liked the ideas of the National Finance Commission and Council of Common Interest and they will discuss these ideas with stakeholders in Somalia.
The delegation also hailed the role of NADRA in developing the civil registry system.
Delegation terms study tour beneficial for learning
On the local bodies issue, the delegation said that they learned a lot of things about it in Pakistan during the study tour.
Fiqi emphasized the importance of enhancement of the bilateral cooperation in diplomatic, cultural and development sectors to consolidate ties between Somalia and Pakistan.
