Islamabad, February 20; The inaugural session of 4th batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan 2012, begins today in Islamabad.

Facilitated by PILDAT, the Youth Parliament Pakistan is patterned after the National Assembly of Pakistan. Its membership is drawn from young Pakistanis aged between 18-29 years from Balochistan, KP, Punjab, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and FATA.

The inaugural session spans over 5 days - February 20-24, 2012. Selected young Pakistanis from across Pakistan will join the session. The selection process, based on merit, has been led by an independent Steering Committee. Out of the 60 member batch, 44 are male while 16 are female. The average age in the 4th batch is 23 years. In the fourth successive batch, the Blue Party forms a majority with 78% membership opting for its membership while 22% members have joined the Green Party. The Youth Parliament Pakistan consists of 28 members from Punjab, 12 members from Sindh, 7 from KP, 5 from Balochistan, 3 from Islamabad Capital Territory, 2 each from FATA and AJK while 1 member from Gilgit Baltistan.

Following an orientation for new members, the Youth Parliament session will officially begin with oath-taking of the members. While Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogazai, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, has graciously agreed to chair the Youth Parliament Pakistan as its Speaker, election to the office of the Youth Deputy Speaker will be held during the first session. Agenda of first session also includes ascertainment of the Member who commands the confidence of the majority of the Members as Youth Prime Minister. The Opposition benches will also choose a Youth Leader of the Opposition. During the course of the first session, Youth Prime Minister will choose a Youth Cabinet while a Shadow Cabinet will be chosen by the Leader of the Opposition. Standing Committees of the Youth Parliament will also be elected during the first session.

On February 23, a formal inaugural ceremony will begin by paying homage to 6 martyrs of Youth Parliament Pakistan who lost their lives in an air crash on July 28, 2010. The Inaugural Session will be addressed by Patron Youth Parliament Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, MNA, Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Senator S. M. Zafar, Chairman and other members of Youth Parliament Steering Commnittee, including Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA, Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal, MNA and Ms. Anusha Rahman Khan, MNA. HE Mr. Uffe Wolffhechel, Ambassador of Denmark, will also speak at the Inaugural ceremony of Youth Parliament Pakistan.

Youth Parliament is also expected to debate the Way Forward in Blochistan, Electoral Reforms in Pakistan and in particular the new Electoral Roll in its first session.

PILDAT has earlier conceived, planned and facilitated 3, year-long batches of Youth Parliament Pakistan in 45%7, 45%8 and 45%9 respectively. The 4th batch is supported by the Danish International Development Agency, Government of Denmark.