In a move to foster youth engagement in Pakistan’s legislative process, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani on Wednesday formally approved the launch of the Senate Summer Internship Program 2025.

The program will host 21 university students from leading institutions including the Foundation for Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST), National University of Modern Languages (NUML), and National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).

Set to commence on June 16, the eightweek internship program aims to provide fresh graduates from social sciences and technology backgrounds with firsthand exposure to the legislative and administrative functions of the Senate, particularly during the ongoing budget session.

As part of the initiative, selected students will undergo a twoday orientation at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS). The training will focus on the Constitution of Pakistan, legislative procedures, and the operational framework of the Senate and its standing committees.

This internship is part of the broader Senate Outreach Program. The Senate Secretariat has previously engaged 20 students from QuaideAzam University, National Defence University, Bahria University, and NUST during the June-August 2022 session, and 18 students from seven schools in Islamabad from July to August 2024.

Since taking office in March 2024, Chairman Gillani has also introduced a sixweek unpaid internship initiative to promote inclusive legislative engagement. To date, the Senate Secretariat has successfully conducted internships for 426 students from various universities nationwide.

The Senate Secretariat now plans to expand the internship program in its second phase to include A and O level schools in Islamabad, furthering the vision of inclusive youth participation in Pakistan’s democratic and parliamentary system.