The head of the latest delegation from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (KPA) has said that the two-day study visit to Tynwald will set in train measures that will strengthen the province’s legislative process.

Akbar Ayub Khan, the adviser to the Minister for Education, Communications and Works, said: ‘The visit has been extremely useful and we have been especially interested to learn about the Tynwald committee system because, unlike the Manx committee election process, it is the Speaker who nominates members to serve on our committees. The committees we have, however, are not as effective, so if we are to bring about change we need the support and access to research Tynwald has to offer.

‘We are an emerging provincial parliament that needs time and much fine tuning to evolve in order to better serve the electorate. To some extent, however, our efforts are constrained by tribal influences, party politics and a strong military presence. Faced with these challenges we need to empower our members, many of whom are young and inexperienced, which is why this visit has proved so valuable.

‘We are making progress, though, achieving reforms in education, health, tourism and environmental issues. In the last three and a half years, for example, with community participation, we have planted one and a half billion trees.

‘Given the size of the Isle of Man, the scale and reach of Tynwald, its smooth operation, accessibility and absence of political parties have been fascinating to observe and learn from.’

The study visit was the penultimate in a British Council-sponsored capacity-building programme launched in September 2016. By the end of 2017 most of the 124-strong KPA membership will have travelled to the Isle of Man for parliamentary exposure and training sessions arranged by the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office.

Photo - KPA delegation members pictured during a tour of the Tynwald chambers delivered by chamber and information executive Andy Cooke. Photo Paul Dougherty, Tynwald Seneschal.