Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka is the pioneering team member that established the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in 2008-09. He is presently Director General Research in BS21/OG1 since Feb., 2019. In 2009, he commenced Institute’s Research services and in 2010-11 its Training services. He brings with him over two decades experience in academia/research and 14 years of parliamentary services. Mr Zaka has authored ten books on various aspects of Parliamentary Business. In his leadership, PIPS has served over 1125 research and technical papers to Hon. Members of the Parliament and Committees while he has conducted over 100 capacity building sessions for MPs, committees, academia, civil society and youth on diversified topics of parliamentary areas. He holds an M. Phil. degree in International Relations (1997-98) and M.Sc in Strategic Studies with distinction (1993-94) from the top ranking Quaid e Azam University, Islamabad.

Mr Zaka was awarded Professional Legislative Fellowship by US State Department (Oct-Nov., 2015) for Washington. He has also attended an International Course on Legislative Research by US Congressional Research Service (2008) and an International Fellowship on Human Rights and Budget Analysis (April 18-29, 2008) held by US Budget Group and Asian Institute of Human Rights, Thailand. Since 2008-09, Mr Zaka was instrumental in developing the Institute’s longstanding relationships with international partners such as UNDP, USAID, Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung, European Union and West Minster Foundation for Democracy. He led PIPS to be recognized as centre of parliamentary excellence in Jordan in March, 2016. He steers PIPS team that commenced Parliamentary Studies as a discipline in universities and runs outreach programme since 2012 that has oriented more than 10,000 youth on Constitution, Parliament and State Building from all over Pakistan. He is also Editor of PIPS Parliamentary Research Digest, most widely read monthly parliamentary publication since January 2014.

Mr Zaka has supervised eleven MS dissertations in the fields of development studies, international relations, sociology, diplomatic and strategic studies, at reputable Pakistani universities. He has been Member, Board of Studies at the Department of Defence and Diplomatic Studies, Fatimah Jinnah Women University, FJWU. Mr Zaka is a certified international trainer in parliamentary research, assessing laws, peace and human rights and parliamentary business. He is an eloquent speaker on ideology of Pakistan, Parliament and Constitution, leadership, role of youth, peace, tolerance and state building well as security issues. Since 2014-15, Team Research PIPS has been instrumental in his leadership viz a viz facilitating the National Assembly’s initiative to commence parliamentary studies as a discipline in 22 Pakistani universities. He has been member of founding team member of the Foundation University, Islamabad. He started his full-time career as Lecturer, political science at FFCB (1996-2000) and Faculty at FFIMCS (2000-2003). Mr Zaka has also served on leading portfolios including Head, Deptt. of Social Sciences and Development Studies, Iqra University (2003-2006); Director, Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) (2006-2007) and Legislative Capacity Advisor, Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project, (PLSP) (2007-2010). In February 2019, the PIPS Board of Governors promoted Mr Zaka, as the Director General (Research and Legislation) in BS21/OG1. He has also served as the Executive Director of the Institute from 1st July to 30th September, 2014; 3rd September, 2015 to 19th May, 2016 and May 01st, 2019 till December 31st, 2019.