8th batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan Inaugurated
Youth Parliament Pakistan
Islamabad, June 01: The 8th batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan was inaugurated today, making the initiative by PILDAT since 2007, the longest running nationally representative Youth Parliament.
The 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan (www.youthparliament.pk) will give young members a fast-paced comprehensive orientation and training on democratic and political affairs of Pakistan, legislative processes and leadership skills.
Speaking at the Inauguration Ceremony, the Chief Guest, Honourable Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan said: “PILDATs’ initiative to train young Members in democratic practices and working of Parliament is a significant step. The ban of student unions since 1970s has blocked ways for the youth to take part in active politics, therefore such initiatives providing young women and men a platform like Youth Parliament Pakistan will play pivotal role in engaging youth in the political and democratic awareness. Senator Rabbani suggested to establish a Youth Senate in which the issues related to provinces and nationalities could be addressed”.
Touching upon the subject of corruption, Senator Rabbani said that two systems of accountability can not work in the country. Each citizen, be it a politician or belonging to military have to be answerable to same system of accountability.
On civil-military relations, Senator Rabbani said it will take an institutional engagement and dialogue to bring a constitutional equation of civil-military relations in Pakistan. The Parliamentary Committee on National Security must be re-established to institutionalize a reform-based dialogue.
After the successful conclusion of the term of 7 earlier Youth Parliaments (in 2007, 2008-2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015), the 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan comprising 240 young Members has been selected from across the country.
Addressing the Inaugural ceremony of the 8th Batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan, the Guest of Honour, Mr. Jakob Jakobsen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark said that although the future was always uncertain, what was certain was that it will be the young people of Pakistan who determine what the future of Pakistan will be. Speaking to the young members, Mr. Jakobsen said “The Youth Parliament program is a great opportunity for you to learn about civic responsibility, team work, tolerance and respect for other people’s opinion. This is where democracy starts from.”
Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director PILDAT said that the 8th Youth Parliament will have a life of one year while its 4 sessions will meet for five days in Islamabad. A new batch of 60 people will be called in for each of the first four sessions. Sessions 1- 4 covers training and skill building under a standardised curriculum as well as debate and presentations of policy recommendations by the young members. The Youth Parliament Pakistan has its own 2- party system, Leader of the House and Opposition, as well as an augmented system of Parliamentary Committees with Committee Chairpersons.
An oath taking ceremony was held at the first plenary session of the first session of 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan. Elections were held for the offices of Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Speaker. Mr. Faizan Daud, YP1-15-Punjab04 was elected as the Leader of the House, Mr. Saad Ashiq, YP1-31-Punjab01 was elected at the Leader of the Opposition, while Mr. Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi YP1-07-KP03 was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the first session of 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan.
An independent Steering Committee of Youth Parliament oversees the selection process and the effective functioning of the Youth Parliament Pakistan. The Committee comprises Senator S. M. Zafar, Chairman Youth Parliament Pakistan Steering Committee; Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Former Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan; Ms. Nafeesa Inayatullah Khattak, MNA; Mr. Shehryar Afridi, MNA; Senator Dr. Karim Ahmed Khawaja, Member Senate of Pakistan, Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, Former MNA/State Minister of Finance, Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, Senior Journalist & Literary Figure and Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Secretary General Youth Parliament Pakistan/President PILDAT.
Honourable Members of YPP Steering Committee, large number of former Members of Youth Parliament Pakistan and print and electronic media attended the Inaugural ceremony.
The Youth Parliament Pakistan is an initiative conceived, planned and facilitated by PILDAT (www.pildat.org). The 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan is supported by the Danish International Development Agency, Government of Denmark as recognition of the importance of young people’s involvement in democracy and democratic practices.
For further information & details:
Website: www.youthparliament.pk
Email: info@youthparliament.pk
Twitter: @YouthParlPak
Facebook: www.facebook.com/YouthParlPak
Cell # 0345-5448626
Landline: 051-111-123-345 (Exts: 110, 119 &116)