The formal launching ceremony and orientation of selected students for Parliamentary Internship Programme for Punjab Assembly was held in Lahore on June 15, 2004. Sardar Shaukat Mazari, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly was the Chief Guest at the occasion while the speakers included Mr. Qasim Zia, Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Ashifa Riaz Fatyana, Provincial Minister for Women Development, Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman shami, Editor-in-Chief Daily Pakistan and Member PILDAT Board of Advisors and Mr. Saeed Ahmad, Secretary Provincial Assembly of Punjab.

Six (6) students have been selected as interns to be placed with two Public Accounts Committees, Privileges Committee, Automation Department and the Research and Publication Departments of the Punjab Assembly. These students include Mr. Furqan Rehmat from Petroleum Engineering Department of University of Engineering and Technology � UET, Lahore; Ms. Saleha Siddique, Mr. Rizwan Chaudhry and Ms. Asma Munir from Computer Science Department, Lahore University of Management Sciences � LUMS; Mr. Adil Syed from MBA, National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore and Ms. Zubaida Hanif, from History Department of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan.

The Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP) launched by PILDAT can play important role in strengthening the democratic process in the country, said Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Sardar Shaukat Mazari. Addressing on the occasion, Sardar Shaukat Mazari appreciated PILDAT's efforts in introducing the programme and assured government's full cooperation to make it a success. He suggested the students of rural areas should also be given opportunity. He said the programme should be made a regular feature. Sardar Shaukat remarked that opposition for the sake of opposition or moving ahead without taking opposition into confidence due to a heavy majority in the House should not be the strategy of parliamentarians. He said politicians should develop harmony to make country a prosperous state. He also appreciated media's role and said they were free to express their opinion.

Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Qasim Zia of Pakistan People Party stated that the govt should have taken steps to introduce the programme a long time ago. He said the internship programme would actually provide the opposition members with an opportunity to benefit in terms of research and legislation process. He belived that Punjab Assembly should allocate its own finances for internship programme as well as research facilities for members in the coming budget.

Mujeebur Rehman Shami suggested that a Parliamentary Service should be introduced in Pakistan as well following the practice in other developed countries. Ashifa Riaz Fatiyana stated the programme should be expanded and internees for MPs, ministers and even chief minister should also be deputed every year. She remarked the people of the country should come forward and take part in nation building process. Secretary PA Saeed Ahmed lauded the PILDAT for introducing the programme and said earlier such programmes were negotiated with various foreign organisations but they could see the light of the day. He said the programme would definitely boost the efficiency of the PA. He told the audience that plan was afoot to computerise PA. Earlier, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob explained the details of the programme while Sardar Shaukat Mazari gave away the internship manuals to the selected students.