Parliamentary support: Second batch of YPAs get certificates

The programme grooms youngsters to provide research, operational support to parliament.

The second batch of 35 Young Parliamentary Associates (YPAs), selected and trained as part of the European Union-funded “Improving Parliamentary Performance in Pakistan (IP3)” project received their certificates today. Certificates for the three-week long training were presented by Deputy Senate Chairman Sabir Ali Baloch, Deputy NA Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, and European Union Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, said a press release.

The YPAs will serve the National Assembly, the Senate, and the committees of parliament by providing research and operational support. The presence of the YPAs will increase parliament’s capacity to research issues for legislation and provide for better-informed decision making and debate among the parliamentarians. The programme will also create a pool of young people who will be connected to the political system of Pakistan as they move on to other fields of policy, research and professional work.

The YPAs have undergone intensive training during the last three weeks, focusing on building their understanding of the constitution of Pakistan, parliamentary procedures, budgets, legal terminologies, roles of the secretariats, parliamentary research, workings of the parliamentary committees, rules of procedures and other relevant topics.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Senator Sabir Ali Baloch said that the IP3 project has been instrumental in strengthening the relationship between the EU and the Parliament of Pakistan. He emphasized the need for greater collaboration between the EU and the Parliament of Pakistan. He said that the YPAs are assisting parliament while getting significant exposure to the parliamentary processes. He appreciated the recruitment process and said that the entire process was kept very transparent.

Ambassador Wigemark said, “It is good to hear that these young and talented Pakistani graduates are appreciated by both the National Assembly and the Senate as a significant resource, adding to the Parliament’s analytical, research and legislative drafting capacity. Some of these young professionals may go on to hold more permanent positions in the Secretariat of the Parliament or, who knows, may even one day enter politics themselves. Either way they are certain to help strengthen democracy in Pakistan”.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that IP3 is an important initiative as it focuses on the capacity of the parliament to deliver. He said that in the recent years the Senate of Pakistan has played a larger role in strengthening democracy. He also said that a strategic plan has been developed and with the assistance of the European Union the strategy can be further refined. He hoped that the YPAs will bring new ideas and approaches to the parliament and he looks forward to further institutional collaboration between the EU and the Parliament.

MNA Mariyum Aurangzeb said the young professionals are helping in filling the gaps in the parliament secretariat. She said that the recruitment process has been improved and it is in line with the strategic framework devised by the parliament. She also mentioned that positions have been identified within the Secretariat that can be filled by the YPAs, as they have been trained and exposed to the parliamentary processes. She advised the YPAs to make the best use of the opportunity provided.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2014.