Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, inaugurated a 3-day training program titled “Training of Trainers (TOT): Parliamentary Studies Program” at Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services in the backdrop of declaration signed on February 9, 2015 to introduce parliamentary studies as a new discipline in universities. The programme is being well attended by around 36 faculty members and academia from 22 reputed institutions from all over Pakistan, who are either working on the program or planning to introduce the parliamentary studies program in their respective institutions. Under the patronage of Honorable Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Vice Chancellors, Deans & HoDs of 25 universities previously signed the declaration to commence parliamentary studies degree in their universities.

The event formally inaugurated with the National Anthem & recitation of verses from Holy Quran. While sharing his welcome remarks, Executive Director Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services Zafarullah Khan emphasized on the importance of the course and said that there is dire need to educate masses regarding Parliament, its working, constitution and state building. He also acknowledged the Research and IT team of PIPS for untiring efforts to support the initiative of Parliamentary Studies as a new discipline. Chief Guest of the Inauguration Honorable Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq graced the event with his presence. A candid and insightful discussion took place between the participants & Speaker National Assembly.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly, shared the progressive initiatives taken up by Parliament, which further enhanced the working philosophy and procedures at the Parliament. The introduction of various courses on Parliament’s working supported by PIPS, developing research unit at National Assembly, formation of legislative council and importance of SDGs secretariat were few of the initiatives Speaker shared. He also highlighted the satellite offices formed in all the provincial assemblies to assist parliamentarians whenever required by them. The address was followed by a thorough Q/A session in which Sardar Ayaz Sadiq heard the insights & recommendations of participants while answering their questions. The academics acknowledged the dynamic leadership of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and eulogized the PIPS team for organizing such a professional workshop. They also emphasized the Parliament and PIPS to take up equivalency of parliamentary studies as a discipline to political science, strategic studies and social sciences so that students studying BS in Parliamentary Studies and Political Science should get admission to higher degrees with ease.

The Inaugural session concluded with a group photo of participants with Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who expressed his hopes that the training will result in substantive and valuable outputs from academia to orient our coming generations regarding working of Parliament for the well-being of the citizens. He thanked the Thirty five (35) senior faculty members from concerned departments of 22 universities were invited from Quaid e Azam University Islamabad; Fatimah Jinnah Women University RWP; Ripah University, COMSATS; SZABIST Karachi; Baluchistan University Quetta; Gujrat University; University of Peshawer; University of Punjab, Lahore; Bahria University, Isbd; University Law College Quetta; Bahria University, Isbd; Sargodha University; Kinnaird College University Lahore; University of Bahawalpur; NUST, Islamabad; IIU, Islamabad; AJK University Muzaffarabad; BZU Multan; School of Law QAU; GC University Faisalabad; Sardar Bahadur Khan University Quetta; Sindh University Jamshoro and University of Education, Lahore.

Prof Dr Saeed Shafqat, Director, FC College, Lahore, talked on Comparative Presidential and Parliamentary System and the Pakistani context followed by a well-attended Qs and Ans session. Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, Director Research and IT conducted an interactive session on Parliament, Constitution and State Building as well as Working of Parliament- key tools, which was keenly participated by all participants in identifying their aspirations about future Pakistan and the vision of its forefathers Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal. The Participants also visited the “Gali e Dastor,” and attended the live session of the National Assembly of Pakistan at the Parliament House.