Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services commenced its 5th National Parliamentary Development Course (NPDC) on 5th November 2018 for the parliamentary functionaries in grade 17 and 18, employed at the National Assembly and the Senate Secretariat as well as Provincial and Legislative Assemblies’ Secretariat.

The programme commenced with the recitation of Holy Quran. Worthy Executive Director PIPS Mr. Zafarullah Khan welcomed the Chief Guest, Honourable Deputy Speaker & Vice President of PIPS BOG, Mr. Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri and the course participants to the inauguration ceremony of the course. He congratulated the officers for being nominated as course participants and emphasized the importance of acquiring parliamentary knowledge. Mr. Khan enlightened the audience about the design, module and assessment methodology. He shared with the audience that this based long course had successfully trained 88 officers and this year the number will cross 100 with the graduation of 5th batch of NPDC course. Lastly, he said that repetitive blindness could make one lethargic for which such courses were designed to facilitate in the expansion of human, technical and professional competencies. The Honourable Chief Guest, Mr. Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri formally inaugurated the programme by acknowledging the tireless efforts put in by the Executive Director PIPS and his team to build the capacity of parliamentary officers at par with international standards. He welcomed the course participants and emphasized the importance of building knowledge of parliamentary business as it could play a vital role in effective governance and upholding rule of law. He believed that officers had the fundamental responsibility of assisting the parliamentarians for which extensive knowledge of the parliamentary process was essential and highlighted few comparable practices of Parliamentary development being offered around the world particularly in Australia, Canada and UK. He expressed his confidence that at the end of the course, participants would be equipped with enhanced knowledge and competence which would not only increase their capacity for analysis and decision making but also make their institutions proud of them. Lastly, He expressed his hope that the present government would be helpful in the dispensation of justice for all and eradicate corruption from the society.