Islamabad, 12th April, 2018: A Public Hearing was organized by Pakistan Institute of Parliamentry Service (PIPS) to highlight the significance and importance of Civic Democratic Education and create awareness on “National Civic Education Commission Bill-2018”.
Mover of the bill, Senator (R) Sehar Kamran (TI) briefed the objective and salient features of the bill. During her remarks she stated that the purpose behind introducing this bill was to focus on the subject of ‘civic education’ which has remained largely missing in our society in general and in our academia in particular. The bill calls for making the Democratic Civic Education a part of the curriculum, focuses on the need of civic education in Pakistan, considering its great importance, proposes the establishment of “National Civic Education Commission” for the promotion of civic education through various channels.
Senator Kamran said this bill is for the future of Pakistan and its people. She stated that she believes this pro-democracy legislation if materialized will bring about a true change in the country. She remarked that we need to invest in citizenship and in this regard Civic education and engagement are integral to raising moral and responsible citizens. She further said that all democratic societies have had a long interest in the ways in which their youth are prepared for citizenship and in how they learn to take part in civic life. Federalism should be made a part of curriculum, she added.
While talking in length about her bill on civic education, Senator Sehar Kamran said that a combination of civic lessons in the curriculum and providing opportunities to volunteer with civil society organizations motivates the youth to be responsible citizens. She said in the absence of such civil channels, no wonder the youth in Pakistan have landed in the arms of extremist outfits.
She emphasized that it is vital to save the youth of Pakistan from the menace of social evils and the outfits of violent extremism and terrorism. She said we have seen and observed that children in Pakistan are more vulnerable and exposed to propaganda and lack knowledge or information about civic education and preserving public good.
Senator Kamran stated that the future of Pakistan and its over 200 million people depends on continuity of democratic governance embedded in supremacy of the Constitution. She said we are aware that about half of Pakistan’s population is under twenty-five and not all young people are fortunate to get formal school, college and university education. She said core concepts like constitutionalism, federalism and representative democratic institutions are missing in the textbooks taught in the nations’ classrooms. This bill would revive civic education and engagement in Pakistan.
Senator Sehar Kamran stated that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has always stood for the promotion of democratic cultures and norms in the country and the resolution is a part of that commitment to the people. She also expressed her gratitude to the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party especially PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPPP President Mr Asif Ali Zardari, PPP President Women Wing Faryal Talpur, Bakhtawar Bhutto and Asifa Bhutto for their continued support for the bill.