A delegation from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly aims to use a two-day study visit to Tynwald to help set in train measures that will strengthen the Pakistani 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.’

He added: ’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.’

He said the visit was valuable to help assembly members, many of whom were young and inexperienced.

’We are making progress, though, achieving reforms in education, health, tourism and environmental issues,’ he added.

’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 to observe the parliament and take part in training sessions arranged by the clerk of Tynwald’s office.