Islamabad, November 06, 2009: Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan, while addressing the inaugural session of the third batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan urged young members to play a lead role in review of national policies. Mr. Kundi, who is also the patron of Youth Parliament, congratulated previous two batches for their policy analysis and highlighted that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani had invited two members of Youth Parliament to the federal cabinet meeting to give their input in the draft National Education Policy on September 09, 2009.

Mr. Kundi was addressing the inaugural session of the third batch of Youth Parliament. Other speakers at the inaugural ceremony included Senator S. M. Zafar, Chairman Youth Parliament Steering Committee, Dr. Donya Aziz, MNA and Advisor to the Blue party of Youth Parliament and Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA and advisor to the Green party of Youth Parliament Pakistan.

Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi congratulated the members of Youth Parliament emphasizing that the 48 members had been selected out of over 1600 applicants from across Pakistan following a rigorous selection process. He said that youth is the future of the country and congratulated political parties of the country for also bringing more youth in the National Assembly of Pakistan and over 90 members were 40 years or under in the National Assembly. He said Youth Parliament is an ideal training and grooming platform for political and democratic orientation of youth of Pakistan and congratulated PILDAT for its successful initiative now spanning over 3 years.

Senator S. M. Zafar, Chairman Steering Committee Youth Parliament Pakistan, stressed that the members must focus on background research and preparation in order to lead parliamentary debate and policy analysis in Youth Parliament. He believed that there are many burning issues that require focus of youth, the most important of which is Pakistan’s role in war against terrorism. He believed the issue requires a fresh perspective of youth and through the youth analysis, the policy on terrorism requires to be revisited.

Dr. Donya Aziz, MNA during her address to the inaugural session pointed out the weaknesses prevailing in the Pakistani political structure. She urged that youth’s involvement into politics and democracy is key to understanding the governance weaknesses in the country.

Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA stressed that youth must understand the mechanics and implications of politics. He advised youth to involve in practical rather than the drawing room politics. In an inspiring speech at the inauguration session, Mr. Dastgir Khan said that tree of democracy needs sacrifice.