About Youth Parliament Pakistan

Why a Youth Parliament?

Pakistan needs to strengthen its democratic institutions and inculcate democratic culture in the society. We need to discourage extremist tendencies and lack of tolerance for others’ beliefs and views and strengthen the rule of law. Open and informed debate on issues facing the society should be promoted. The society should develop tools, mechanisms and systems which can facilitate the exposure of democratic system to its citizens from an early stage.

Introduction

To engage youth in Pakistan in healthy discourse and expose them to the democratic process and practices, PILDAT has launched a pilot Youth Parliament. Establishment and facilitation of the Youth Parliament is part of PILDAT’s focus on Youth in the country and Youth’s awareness education and training in the norms of politics and democracy in the country. PILDAT strongly feels that sustainable democracy and the sustainability of sound democratic institutions in Pakistan is not possible without youth’s involvement in the democratic and political process even if this involvement is simply as a citizen or voter.

PILDAT has received cooperation of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Pakistan in lunching the Youth Parliament while the project is supported by the Global Opportunities Fund of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Germany as recognition of the importance of young people’s involvement in democracy and democratic practices.

Objectives

The specific objectives of Youth Parliament Pakistan are to educate Pakistani Youth about politics and democracy and to demonstrate to them how Parliaments are able:
 

• to make legislation;

• to debate matters of national and international concern;

• to demand accountability from those in government;

• to discuss legislation in committee;
• to change government without recourse to civil disorder; and
• to make and enforce their own rules of conduct.

In addition it is expected that Youth parliament Pakistan will become a useful forum to voice views of the Youth about a range of national and international issues. The debates in the Youth Parliament are meant to not only help the young members in their personal development as a useful citizen, they will also serve the purpose of articulating views of the youth on vital issues facing the nation and conveying these to the Government.

Key Features of the Youth Parliament

As a model Parliament for young people, the Youth Parliament Pakistan is patterned after the National Assembly of Pakistan although its membership is smaller than that of the National Assembly. Wherever possible, the Youth Parliament follows the rules of procedures as close to the National Assembly as practical. However, better practices from other Parliaments are adopted to expose Pakistani Youth to better Parliamentary practices.

Membership

The total membership of Youth Parliament is 60. Gender profile of Youth Parliament is: 72% Male and 28% Female on Open Merit

The breakdown of the membership is as follows:
 

Age

Only those young Pakistanis who were between the age of 18-29 years on October 01, 2006 were eligible to apply for membership of the Youth Parliament. The average age of current members is about 24 years.

Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Youth Parliament

The Youth Parliament Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business are specially drafted learning from the National Assembly of Pakistan Rules and from other Youth Parliaments around the World.

Subsistence Allowance

There is a limited travel and subsistence allowance for members to attend the sessions of the Youth Parliament.

Youth Parliament Cabinet

Youth Parliament has a six member cabinet and a shadow cabinet along with six Standing Committees and a Business Advisory Committee.
 

Patron, Youth Parliament Pakistan

Honourable Senator Mohammedmian Soomro, Chairman, Senate of Pakistan is the Patron Youth Parliament Pakistan.

Secretariat of the Youth Parliament

As the project implementer, PILDAT is the Secretariat of the Youth Parliament.

Members’ Political Affiliation

There is no bar on the actual political affiliation of the members of the Youth Parliament. Youth Parliament has two mock political parties: the Blue Party (Liberal) and the Green Party (Traditional) and members are asked to join either one of the political parties for the purpose of Youth Parliament. Joining one of the parties is obligatory for members. The Blue Party formed a majority in Youth Parliament bagging 36 seats as opposed to 24 seats held by the Green Party.

Minimum Work Days

The Youth Parliament Pakistan will meet for at least 30 days at six sessions in a year.

Venue

Islamabad