The word democracy often brings to mind elections, voting, political parties and government; but democracy includes much more. Democracy is, among others, an understanding of one's rights, the functioning of institutions, access to information and participation in decision-making, and the means by which people can engage in the process of decision-making.
As a software engineering student, I have always been fascinated by the ability of technology to solve problems and make things accessible. However, my attendance at the International Day of Democracy Seminar at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and the subsequent visits to the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan, made me consider technology from a different angle.
The visit was an eye-opener for me as I learned about parliamentary procedures, the workings of the National Assembly and the Senate, and the various aspects of parliamentary governance. What stood out to me most from the seminar in PIPS was “We agree to discipline.” I found this statement fascinating, as it demonstrated that democracy does not require everyone to think the same. Rather, democracy allows for a space where differences of opinion can be aired, debated and discussed. However, achieving this requires discipline and respect for the system. In addition, it made me think about the following question: if technology has influenced almost every aspect of our lives, how can it enable us to understand and participate in democracy?
Parliament in the Digital Age
Technology is increasingly seeping into parliamentary governance in Pakistan. Parliament's institutions are using technology to improve operations, as well as to enhance information accessibility and citizen engagement.
The Senate has worked to embrace digital transformation, and has put in place various measures to provide a better experience for its constituents. Some of these include digitizing parliamentary information, enhancing broadcast and webcasting capabilities, automating parliamentary procedures, and hardening cybersecurity infrastructure. Notably, the Senate has put in place a number of digital initiatives aimed at bringing parliament closer to the people (Senate of Pakistan, 2025, 2026).
Similarly, the National Assembly is also embracing digitalization to improve governance. For instance, the 2026 announcement for a soft launch of an AI-powered parliamentary system indicates that the Assembly has made digitalization a priority. Indeed, the process of digitalization of parliament has been viewed as a way through which efficiency, transparency and accountability can be achieved (National Assembly of Pakistan, 2026).
For me, this is significant in that it shows that technology should not only play a role within the Parliament, but also outside of it. During my visit to the National Assembly, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and activities that take place in the Pakistan's democratic institutions. Debates, bills, committees, parliamentary questions, and many other procedures take place in Parliament.
I wish there had been a digital resource that could help young citizens such as myself understand parliamentary procedures.
A young citizen in Islamabad does not need to go to Islamabad to learn about Pakistan's democratic institutions and processes. If parliamentary information could be digitally transformed into more accessible forms, young people could learn about Parliament with minimal effort.
Young People as Digital Citizens
Pakistan's youth have an important role to play in ensuring the country's democratic future. With young people already using technology to interact, learn, work, and even do business, technology can be a powerful tool for learning and participating in democracy.
However, youth participation should not be limited to voting. There are a number of ways young people can participate in democracy, including: staying informed about public issues, attending seminars and public events, holding civic discussions, carrying out research, and volunteering in the community, as well as engaging with civic institutions.
During my visit to PIPS and Parliament, I realized the value of such initiatives in promoting youth awareness. I must say that prior to my visit to PIPS, I had a more theoretical understanding of parliamentary procedures and practices. My visit to PIPS and the National Assembly gave me a hands-on experience about the inner workings of Pakistan's democratic institutions. In addition, I learned a number of insights about the functions and roles of the Senate and the National Assembly. Thus, in my opinion, technology can play a similar role in helping young people learn about Parliament.
An online parliamentary tour and simplified explanations of bills and procedures can help young people to better understand democracy. Similarly, the youth-focused initiatives of PIPS are also crucial, as they offer a direct way through which young people can learn first-hand about parliamentary democracy (Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services, 2026).
The Problem of Misinformation
Technology has made information more accessible, but at the same time, it has created a problem of misinformation. With social media allowing information to 'go viral', the distinction between true and false information is not always clear.
While the virality of social media can be leveraged to spread important information to a large audience, the same cannot be said of misinformation.
Digital literacy is extremely important for young people, as it ensures that they know where to get reliable information, how to fact-check, and how to identify credible sources. This is especially important when it comes to information about democracy and institutions. A video, screenshot, or social media post may not tell us the whole story about a parliamentary procedure. As young citizens, we need to ensure that we do not share information that could end up misleading the public.
In my opinion, this is also where my field, software engineering, intersects with democracy. Technology is created by people, and can therefore be used in ways that its creators intend, or in unintended ways. As software engineers, we need to think not only about creating programs that work, but also about what unintended consequences these programs might have.
Conclusion
The visit that I made to PIPS, the National Assembly and the Senate was an eye opener for me. While I learned a number of interesting things about parliamentary procedures and governance, I also got a new perspective on the relationship between technology and democracy.
As a software engineering student, I have long been fascinated with the power of technology to make lives better. However, my visit to the PIPS, the National Assembly and the Senate made me realize that technology can facilitate a more informed and engaged citizenry. The statement “We agree to discipline” has stuck with me as an illustration of the kind of environment that democratic institutions such as the Parliament provide for public discourse. While democratic institutions such as the Parliament do not require everybody's opinion to be the same, they allow for a space where people can voice their opinions while at the same time respecting the rules of engagement. The same cannot be said of the digital space, where we often use technology to spread information without first fact-checking or verifying sources. As citizens, we owe it to ourselves and each other to use technology responsibly by safeguarding people's right to information and to privacy.
Pakistan's young people have an important role to play in ensuring the country's democratic future. We are not only future voters, but also future professionals who can contribute our skills to improving democracy. If we are to be informed citizens, then we need to seek knowledge and use technology to get to know Pakistan's democratic institutions and processes. Technology can help bridge the gap between Pakistan's young people and the Parliament. However, it will only do so if we are willing to use it wisely.
References:
International Telecommunication Union. (2025). Pakistan: Digital Development Dashboard. ITU DataHub.
National Assembly of Pakistan. (2026, May 19). National Assembly launches 1st AI-enabled parliamentary system and AI-powered transformation of NA Speaker’s Office. National Assembly of Pakistan.
Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services. (2026). Discover the Parliament of Pakistan: Youth guide. Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services.
Senate of Pakistan. (2025). Parliamentary year report 2023–24. Senate of Pakistan.
Senate of Pakistan. (2026, September 8). Acting President launches Senate mobile application, hails digital transformation of Parliament. Senate of Pakistan.
Uzma Sial - PYP Member, BS Software Engineering Student
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