Youth Parliament Pakistan

Youth Parliament Standing Committees Present Youth Policy Alternatives

While giving feedback on the report, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, said that to increase the seats for minorities, a population census needs to take place so that seats can be allotted on the basis of population. Ms. Nafeesa Inyat ullah Khan Khattak, MNA, suggested separation of Ministry of Law and Justice from Human Rightsin order to address the issues of rights of religious minorities.

While presenting the report on Trade Relations with India: NDMA, Challenges, Way Forward and Implications, Mr. Daniyal Alvi (YP50-SINDH03), Chairperson Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, emphasized on how NDMA to India will allow greater flow of goods and services, investment and financial capital, technology and technical expertise.

Commending the report, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja MNA, maintained that while trade relations with India should increase, a major criticism that still needs to be addressed is the concern related to the security of local industry while opening trade barriers. She maintained that while the first step of identifying problems has been taken, it is time the Members of Youth Parliament try to over come these problems through practical recommendation.

Presenting reforms in Madrassa Education, the Chairperson YPP Standing Committee on Education and Youth Affairs, Ms. Mizghan Kirmani (YP54-SINDH07) recommended learning from the Cuban and Indonesians model for madrassa education as theseprovide students with vocational training and better prospects of employment. The reforms suggested included the adoption ofa cohesive educational standards in line with article 25-A of the Constitution and the formation of monitoring bodies at the Federal, Provincial and Local levels to scrutinize financial and registration records and overall implementation of policy.

Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, commended the Members of Youth Parliament for their hard work and said this exercise is an excellent way of gaining practical experience of how a national policy is drafted. He appreciated the plan of sending of reports of YPP Standing Committees to the Parliament and other policy making circles of Pakistan.

The Standing Committees of the 6th Youth Parliament Pakistan (2014) will be conducting reviews of national policies through research based analysis and have been tasked with developing cogent policy alternatives for the Parliament and the Government of Pakistan.

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



Youth Parliament Standing Committees Present Youth Policy Alternatives



Islamabad, October 28; Five Standing Committees of the 6th Youth Parliament Pakistan unveiled youth policy alternatives on National Internal Security Policy 2014, Tax Reforms in Pakistan, Status of Religious Minorities Pakistan, Trade Relations with India: NDMA, Challenges, Way Forward and Implications and Madrassa Education in Pakistan.

The reports were presented by respective Chairpersons of the Youth Parliament Standing Committees in the presence of Youth Parliament Patron, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, former Deputy Speaker, >Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, former Deputy Speaker, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, MNA and Ms. Nafeesa Inayat ullah Khattak, MNA.

	Addressing what the YPP Standing Committee on National Securitytermed as the weaknesses of Pakistan's National Internal Security Policy, 2014, Mr. Moazzam Habib, (YP38-PUNJAB13), Chairperson of the Committee, recommended that there should be coordination between civil and military intelligences under the NACTA. The report recommendedan increase in border posts alongside the Pak-Afghan border asking for more stringer measures to secure the border. The Committee recommended an increase in budget to create external complaint agencies for independent complaints at police district headquarters and to improve the training of police recruits and existing members of the Law Enforcement Agencies. Quoting that Pakistan has one of the lowest tax to GDP ratios in Asia, Mr. Sohaib Saeed (YP02-AJK02), Chairperson Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Affairs and Planning, recommendedways for increasing incentives for tax payers and for imposing stricter penalties for tax evasion.It is necessary to introduce the method of online tax payment for citizens by promoting the use of e-Tax facilities. Special courts should be established to resolve legal problems relating to tax collection.

Chairperson Youth Parliament Standing committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, Ms. Maria Malik (YP35-PUNJAB16),recommended amending of Section 29B and 29C of the Pakistan Penal Code. The report also recommended increased representation of religious minorities in the National Assembly of Pakistan.

While giving feedback on the report, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, said that to increase the seats for minorities, a population census needs to take place so that seats can be allotted on the basis of population. Ms. Nafeesa Inyat ullah Khan Khattak, MNA, suggested separation of Ministry of Law and Justice from Human Rightsin order to address the issues of rights of religious minorities.

While presenting the report on Trade Relations with India: NDMA, Challenges, Way Forward and Implications, Mr. Daniyal Alvi (YP50-SINDH03), Chairperson Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, emphasized on how NDMA to India will allow greater flow of goods and services, investment and financial capital, technology and technical expertise.

Commending the report, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja MNA, maintained that while trade relations with India should increase, a major criticism that still needs to be addressed is the concern related to the security of local industry while opening trade barriers. She maintained that while the first step of identifying problems has been taken, it is time the Members of Youth Parliament try to over come these problems through practical recommendation.

Presenting reforms in Madrassa Education, the Chairperson YPP Standing Committee on Education and Youth Affairs, Ms. Mizghan Kirmani (YP54-SINDH07) recommended learning from the Cuban and Indonesians model for madrassa education as theseprovide students with vocational training and better prospects of employment. The reforms suggested included the adoption ofa cohesive educational standards in line with article 25-A of the Constitution and the formation of monitoring bodies at the Federal, Provincial and Local levels to scrutinize financial and registration records and overall implementation of policy.

Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, commended the Members of Youth Parliament for their hard work and said this exercise is an excellent way of gaining practical experience of how a national policy is drafted. He appreciated the plan of sending of reports of YPP Standing Committees to the Parliament and other policy making circles of Pakistan.

The Standing Committees of the 6th Youth Parliament Pakistan (2014) will be conducting reviews of national policies through research based analysis and have been tasked with developing cogent policy alternatives for the Parliament and the Government of Pakistan.

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