i. Youth Parliament Pakistan Standing Committee on Education & Youth Affairs honoured by the YPF based on outstanding performance
ii. YPP addressed on Electoral Reforms: Electoral Reforms critical to remove low public trust in the electoral process: Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT
iii. Youth Parliament Standing Committees on National Security and Energy present Reports on Countering Balochistan Insurgency and Energy Trade Policy.

Islamabad, March 26; As a reward for their outstanding performance for the first cycle reports, the Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Education & Youth Affairs was honoured today by the National Assembly of Pakistan’s Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF).

Honourable Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, MNA, (NA-304, Women, Punjab XXXII, PML-N), and General Secretary YPF, welcomed the Committee members and briefed them about the work and purpose of the YPF. The YPF comprises 78 Members of the National Assembly under the age of 40 at the time of General Election 2013. Ms. Khawaja said that the YPF was proud to honour a Standing Committee of the Youth Parliament Pakistan for its outstanding performance in terms of preparing a report on a key issue and submitting reform proposals to the Government.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Mizghan Mehboob Kirmani (YP54-SINDH07), Chairperson Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Education & Youth Affairs, expressed her and her Committee members’ gratitude on being recognized and honoured by a forum of the young MNAs. She also outlined the recommendations of the Committee on Madrassa Education 2014: Challenges, Reforms and Possibilities. In an interactive session, ground realities relating to the implementation of reforms in the education sector and specifically for madrassas were discussed

The Youth Parliament thanked the members of Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) including Honourable Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, MNA (NA-295 Women Punjab- XXIII, Punjab, PML-N), Honourable Mr. Isphanyar M. Bhandara, MNA (NA-335, PML-N), Honourable Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, (NA-304, Women, Punjab XXXII, PML-N), Honourable Mr. Muhammad Rehan Hashmi, MNA (NA-245, Karachi-VII, Sindh, MQM), Honourable Ms. Maiza Hameed, MNA NA-290 Women Punjab- XVIII, Punjab, PML-N) Syed Ali Raza Abidi, MNA (NA-251, Karachi-XIII, Sindh, MQM) and Honurable Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, MNA (NA-157, Khanewal-II, Punjab, PML-N) for their time in the YPF interaction.

Earlier today, two Youth Parliament Standing Committees presented their respective reports in the House. The Youth Parliament Standing Committee on National Security presented a report on Countering Balochistan Insurgency while the Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Energy presented its report on Energy Trade Policy.

Five resolutions on Housing and Works, Lack of Quality Education, Minimizing Indirect Taxes, Reforms in National Testing Service (NTS) and GB Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009 were adopted unanimously in the House.

Upon the beginning of the 2nd day of the 5th session, the Youth Parliament Pakistan, was addressed by Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT, on Electoral Reforms in Pakistan. Mr. Mehboob reiterated the significance of Electoral reforms in the election processes of Pakistan. He stressed on the fact that continuing low public trust in the electoral process is the reason why urgent electoral reform is the need of the hour.

Some of the proposed recommendations to introduce reforms in the electoral process that he explained are:

1. Taking example of Indian Electoral process, the ECP should strengthen system of constituency monitors.
2. Independence of the Polling Staff should be ensured.
3. Increasing number of Polling Stations & making them permanent
4. Strict compliance of Electoral Code of Conduct and giving it a legal cover
5. Electronic Voting Machine
6. Law to limit & regulate Election Spending by political parties.

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said that the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms should expeditiously complete its work, legislative agenda should be implemented and judicial commission to probe allegations of systematic & planned rigging should complete its work in the stipulated time.

The 6th Youth Parliament Pakistan (2014-2015) is supported by the Danish International Development Agency, Government of Denmark.