Youth Parliament of Pakistan 2009-2010

	News and Events
	Third Batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan meets for its Inaugural Session in Islamabad Blue Party will elect Youth Prime Minister for third consecutive batch while Green Party to serve as Opposition; Elections of the Youth Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Speaker form major part of Youth Parliament agenda
	Islamabad, November 04, 2009: Third batch of the Youth Parliament Pakistan, selected from across Pakistan to serve a one year term of 2009-2010, is meeting for its inaugural session in Islamabad. The first session of Youth Parliament Pakistan 2009-2010 batch will be held in Islamabad from November 04-08, 2009. Apart from an orientation session and a formal inauguration of the third batch during the 5-day session, the newly-selected members of Youth Parliament will elect a Youth Prime Minister, a Youth Leader of the Opposition, and Youth Deputy Speaker. The Youth Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, in turn, will notify a Youth Cabinet and a Shadow Cabinet while Standing Committees will also become functional during the first session by electing their chairpersons. The Youth Parliament Pakistan, a PILDAT project that is successfully running for third consecutive year, is aimed at inculcating in youth of Pakistan values and spirit for democracy, the importance of dialogue, tolerance for others views, an understanding of the concept of Parliament and its role in democratic decision-making and oversight. Patterned after the National Assembly of Pakistan, the Youth Parliament Pakistan draws its membership from young Pakistanis aged between 18-29 years on the basis of population through an open merit-based selection process from across Pakistan. The 48-member Youth Parliament 2009-2010 batch draws 19 members from Punjab, 11 from Sindh, 03 from Balochistan, 06 from NWFP, 03 from FATA, 03 from ICT and 1 each from AJK and Gilgit-Biltistan. The gender break-up of the 2009-2010 batch on open merit stands at 21% per cent female and 79% male members. There are two mock parties in the Youth Parliament Pakistan: the Blue party (Liberals) and the Green Party (Traditionalists). Interestingly, the Blue Party has gained a majority in the third subsequent batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan with 32 members (76%) while the Green party will play the role of the opposition in the Youth Parliament 2009-2010 batch with 16 members (24%). Members of the National Assembly of Pakistan serve as Advisors to the two parties with Dr. Donya Aziz, MNA serving as Advisor to the Blue party while Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA and Ms. Anusha Rehman Khan, MNA serve as Advisors to the Green Party. Former Members of Youth Parliament and former Leader of the House and Oppisition Mr. Hammad Khan Marri and Ms. Mariam Zaidi have also been invited to serve as co-advisors to the Blue and Green parties alongside the advisors. An eminent Steering Committee conducts the selection process of Youth Parliament and oversees its activities. Key members of the Steering Committee include Senator S. M. Zafar; Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Former Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan; Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan; Ms. Anusha Rahman Khan, MNA; Dr. Donya Aziz, MNA, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA, Mr. Kabir Sabar and others.. In the first two batches of Youth Parliament, a diverse group of national and international leaders including the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Leader of Opposition in the Senate, Chief Justice of Pakistan and British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have addressed and interacted with the Youth Parliament. The Youth Parliament Pakistan discusses and presents youth perspectives on national policies. It has been a great honour for Youth Parliament Pakistan that Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Yusuf Raza Gilani invited two representatives of Youth Parliament to present their views on draft National Education Policy in the Federal Cabinet meeting that was held on September 09, 2009.

Youth Parliament of Pakistan 2008-09