Honourable Chairman Senate of Pakistan Senator Mian Raza Rabbani eulogized the PIPS initiative to hold 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.

Senator Mian Raza Rabbani emphasized the need for Parliament’s continued leadership in making country a welfare federal state as per the Constitution and as envisaged by father of the nation Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He also informed the audience that Senate has since 2015-16 introduced two types of youth internships, one three month internships twice in a year where students get to know working of Senate and second Annual one year Senate Clerks Programme in which they get opportunity to work in various sections and branches of the Secretariat. Senator Mian Raza Rabbani offered the universities offering parliamentary studies any support required from Senate of Pakistan to promote Parliament, Constitutionalism and welfare state. He also acknowledged PIPS efforts in training the Senate Interns viz a viz Constitution and working of the Parliament.

Mr Zafarullah Khan Executive Director PIPS conducted an absorbing session on Parliamentary Studies as a new discipline in which he shared theoretical framework to design such a curriculum. He also gave examples from contemporary Parliaments such as UK House of Commons as how the Speaker also meets students of parliamentary studies degree program and graduates studying same are given opportunity to serve the House of Commons in practicum. In last session Prof Dr Rasul Baksh Raees and Dr Mahboob Hussain spoke on contemporary issues and challenges in parliamentary studies. The interactive session was keenly participated by all the 35 participants. Ms Shaza Fatimah Khawaja, MNA, also graced the occasion and shared her experiences of teaching about Parliament at LUMS. Dir R and IT PIPS Mr Zaka moderated the session ably supported by his research and IT team Ms Tehseen Khalid SRO, Mr Muhammad Rizwan Manzoor, RO, Mr Zahoor Ahmad IT officer, and Mr Zahid and logistics by Mir Shai Baloch, AD HR.