Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq while presiding the inaugural session of the National Conference to celebrate the decade of Parliamentary Studies Initiative (2015-25) highlighted the importance of strong linkages between Parliament and educational institutions for meaningful progress of the nation. Speaker National Assembly recalled that he envisioned the first-ever National Conference in 2015 at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) to launch the parliamentary studies initiative where 25 universities signed declaration for the inclusion of Parliamentary Studies into their curricula. While appreciating the active participation of houseful of 100 participants including 23 Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Principals of Colleges, and more than senior Faculty Members, in the inaugural session held at the National Parliament. he lauded the role of educational institutions in familiarizing students with parliamentary procedures and for their continued support to NA Internship Program.

The Convenor of the Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs and MNA, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, lauded the initiative of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for introducing Parliamentary Studies into the curricula of universities and educational institutions across Pakistan, as well as for establishing a platform to enhance collaboration between Parliament, universities, and other educational institutions. The inaugural session was moderated by Special Secretary (SI) of the National Assembly, Syed Shamoon Hashmi, while the Director General (Research) of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, together with former Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Zafarullah Khan, briefed houseful of more than 100 participants comprising 23 VCs/Rectors/Deans, around 47 faculty members, on the role of PIPS in facilitating Parliament and universities in incorporating Parliamentary Studies into their curricula. On a query by Dr Salma Malik from Quaid e Azam University and Dr Amna from International Islamic University, Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG R, PIPS informed that PIPS is only an email away for any academic institution to visit Parliament and attend a seminar on Constitution, Parliament and Nation Building. DG Research PIPS, thanked the Hon. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who has also spoke on numerous occasions with faculty, students and interns as PIPS has held around 100 seminars in last decade or so on Constitution, Parliament and Nation Building. These events have been attended by faculty and students from universities, schools, colleges and youth parliaments from all across Pakistan. He informed academic heads that they can email at research@pips.gov.pk for Institute to hold day long orientation on working of Parliament.  On this occasion the Secretary General NA, Mr. Tahir Hussain, Senior Officers as well as Researchers from National Assembly and Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) were also present.  

Inaugural Session: In an inspiring speech, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq underscored the need to project Parliament’s positive initiatives at the national level. He proudly shared that Pakistan’s Parliament holds the unique distinction of being the world’s first “Green Parliament,” as the building was fully converted to solar energy in 2015. He further apprised the participants that in 2015, the National Assembly Internship Programme was launched to acquaint students with the legislative process and parliamentary procedures. “Parliament’s doors are open to all researchers and students from universities across Pakistan. Close linkages between Parliament and academia will be mutually beneficial, and Parliament will continue to collaborate with universities by holding seminars on various subjects,” the Speaker NA added. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq endorsed the suggestions given by the participants and suggested that the Universities and other education institutes in collaboration with the Parliament of Pakistan should formulate a mechanism to nominate deserving students for the NA internship Program. He assured that all issues faced by universities would be addressed by effective legislation, and “The recommendations of the universities will be discussed collectively, and the decisions taken will be implemented accordingly,” he reaffirmed. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also appreciated the enthusiastic participation of the Vice Chancellors and expressed hope that more universities will be included in the programme. He said that in the upcoming December conference, the Speakers of the four Provincial Assemblies, Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will also be invited.

Two panel discussions were held at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services that were addressed by learned faculty members including Prof Dr Asma from Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore, Mian Muhammad Azhar, HOD and Associate Professor GCU Faisalabad, and Dr Muhammad Zubair Iqbal, VC, BZU who spoke on Experience Sharing – State of Scholarship, Studies and Research on the Parliament of Pakistan. Both Dr Asma Awan and Dr Azhar eulogized the NA Speakers’ visionary parliamentary studies program and the support rendered by PIPS in the shape of course outlines, books and ToTs that were source of relevant knowledge insights which polished skills set of faculty members who are teaching parliamentary studies courses at these universities. The faculty highlighted the challenge of employability and equivalence of BS Pol. Sc and Parliamentary Studies to BS Pol Science that is still pending at HEC. In Q and A session, DG R PIPS informed that it is noteworthy that the Institute hosted the inaugural conference in 2015 followed by Training of Trainers (ToTs) program in 2027 and 2023 for faculty members of 20 universities offering parliamentary studies courses. It is a matter of pride for PIPS that Seasoned MPs including Hon Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, former Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, Senator Taj Haider, Hon MNAs Shahida Begum, Ms. Nafeesa Shah, and Ms Shaza Fatimah Khawaja, and Mr Ali Muhammad Khan, have been invited to talk with students on matters of legislative imperativeness and national significance. He invited VCs, Rectors and Faculty to send nomination of 3-4 students with CGPA of 3 and above for internships at PIPS on annual basis by the end of month of May every year.

In last panel discussion on the topic: Way Forward: What Shall be Done to Strengthen the Parliamentary Studies?  The panelists gave many absorbing suggestions. Mr Zubair Safdar Director Riphah University thanked NA and PIPS for always inviting the faculty and students in training and knowledge sharing events. He informed RIU Islamabad commenced the parliamentary studies as elective course and a degree of BS in Governance and Public Policy to teach the said discipline.  Ms Zoya Shaffay informed that KCWU faculty is not only conducting courses but offering supervision to encourage students in undertaking thesis on Parliament.

Prof Dr Mehboob Hussain Dean University of Punjab thanked and congratulated NA and PIPS for holding the imperative conference, He suggested that an annual journal on Parliamentary Studies may be published to enhance research on legislatures and a repository of dissertations at the NA library must be developed. Lt Gen Prof Dr Zahid Latif Mirza, Rector, NUST, in question and answer session offered that NA may avail the training and consulting services as rendered by recently setup Jinnah Center for Public Policy and the Iqbal Executive Development Center at NUST for courses on strategic thinking and tactical planning for decision makers and legislators. Ms Zoya Shaffay gave a detailed overview of how KCUW has internalized parliamentary studies courses in their social sciences degrees and how many students are opting to thesis on the Parliament related topics. She also expressed gratitude to Mr Zafarullah Khan for his mentorship on taking it forward.

Hon MNA Ms Nousheen Iftikhar, President Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), chairing the final session, stressed the need to inculcate responsibilities amongst citizens as envisaged in the Constitution to encouraging the spirit of dialogue amongst young minds of the country. Mr Zafarullah Khan, former ED PIPS and Syed Shamoon Hashmi Special Secy NA moderated the two panel discussion at the Institute auditorium as the event concluded with a group photo.