Students, Watch Out — Fake Internship Ads Are Using the National Assembly’s Name
Pakistan’s National Assembly Secretariat has issued an urgent public advisory warning students and young graduates across the country about fraudulent internship advertisements being circulated in its name — advertisements that are completely fake, unauthorized, and potentially designed to steal personal information or money from unsuspecting applicants.
If you recently came across a social media post, WhatsApp message, or website advertising an internship at the National Assembly of Pakistan — and it asked you to pay a fee, share sensitive documents with an unknown source, or apply through an unofficial link — stop. Authorities say you may be walking straight into a scam.
The warning comes directly from the National Assembly Secretariat, which has confirmed that its official Parliamentary Internship Programme has strict, well-documented procedures — and fraudulent advertisements circulating online share none of them. Officials have asked the public, especially students, not to respond to any internship offer that cannot be verified through the National Assembly’s official website at na.gov.pk.
What the National Assembly Has Said
According to a public notice issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, the institution confirmed that its 2025 Summer Internship selection process has already been completed. Offer letters have been sent to shortlisted candidates through official channels. Any ongoing advertisements claiming to still be accepting applications for this batch are, therefore, entirely fraudulent.
“Applications for internship at the National Assembly Secretariat are closed,” the official notice states clearly. “The selection process for the Summer Internship 2025 has been completed and offer letters have been issued to shortlisted candidates.”
This is not an isolated incident. Across Pakistan, government institutions have been increasingly targeted by scammers who exploit the credibility of well-known bodies to deceive students who are desperate for legitimate career opportunities. The National Assembly, as one of the country’s most respected institutions, makes for an especially attractive name to misuse.
How the Real Programme Actually Works
To understand why fake internship ads are so dangerous, it helps to know what the actual National Assembly Parliamentary Internship Programme looks like. The real programme is a six-week placement that runs on a rolling basis, with a specific Summer Batch beginning in June. It is a full-time, unpaid internship hosted in Islamabad.
Eligible candidates must have completed at least 14 years of education from an HEC-recognized institution. Disciplines that qualify include Law, Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Commerce, HR, IT, Agriculture, Media Studies, and Social Sciences, among others. Applicants must also hold a minimum of 60% marks or a CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 and must be under 30 years of age.
Selected interns are placed in various departments of the National Assembly after a three-to-five day orientation at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in Islamabad. They are expected to maintain professional conduct, observe a formal dress code, and remain completely non-partisan throughout their placement.
What the official programme offers
- Hands-on experience inside Pakistan’s highest legislative body
- Orientation and training at PIPS, Islamabad
- Mentorship from experienced parliamentary professionals
- An official Certificate of Completion from the National Assembly Secretariat
- Special encouragement for students from Balochistan, South Punjab, AJK, KPK, and Gilgit-Baltistan
- Zero fees — not a single rupee is charged at any stage
Red Flags: How to Spot Fake Internship Ads
Identifying a fraudulent internship advertisement is not always straightforward — scammers have become increasingly sophisticated. But there are some consistent warning signs that students should learn to recognise immediately.
- Any advertisement asking for a registration fee, processing fee, or security deposit
- Applying through WhatsApp, email, or third-party websites not ending in na.gov.pk
- Promises of a stipend, salary, or guaranteed government job placement
- Requests for sensitive documents like CNIC scans, bank details, or passwords
- Urgency language like “Apply in the next 24 hours or miss your chance”
- Advertisements circulating only on social media with no traceable official source
- Contact details that point to personal phone numbers or Gmail/Yahoo addresses
The National Assembly’s official internship portal only accepts online applications submitted directly through its website. Applications submitted via email, regular mail, or in person are not entertained — and the institution never asks applicants for any payment at any stage of the process.
A Broader Problem Across Pakistan
This warning from the National Assembly is part of a troubling and growing pattern. In early 2026, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives also issued a public alert after fraudulent job advertisements began circulating under the fake name “National Planning and Development Authority” — an entity that does not exist. Those ads were even published in print newspapers, showing just how far these scams can reach.
Regulators like the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have previously flagged fake online job postings as a significant and growing threat — one often used to harvest personal data, extract money, or both. For students who are young, eager, and actively seeking opportunities, these schemes can be particularly devastating — both financially and emotionally.
The fact that scammers are now specifically targeting the National Assembly’s name is a sign of how brazen these operations have become. Students who genuinely want to participate in Pakistan’s democratic process deserve to know they are applying to a real, verified opportunity — not handing their personal data to criminals.
What Students Should Do Right Now
If you believe you have encountered a fake internship advertisement in the name of the National Assembly of Pakistan, there are clear steps you should take:
First, do not apply or share any personal information. Second, report the advertisement to the platform where you found it — whether that is Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or a website. Third, if you have already shared sensitive information, consider changing your passwords and alerting your bank if financial data was involved.
For students who genuinely wish to apply to future batches of the real programme, the only verified contact for technical queries is internship@na.gov.pk, and the helpline number is 051-9103177. All applications must be submitted through the official portal at na.gov.pk — no exceptions.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
Pakistan has a young, ambitious population. Millions of students graduate every year hoping to find meaningful opportunities that launch their careers. Legitimate government internship programmes, like the one offered by the National Assembly, are genuinely valuable — they provide real exposure to public policy, legislative research, and parliamentary processes. They matter.
When scammers exploit these opportunities, they do not just steal money. They steal trust. A student who gets burned by a fake ad is less likely to apply to the real thing next time. Over time, that erodes the very civic participation that programmes like the National Assembly’s Parliamentary Internship were designed to build.
This is exactly why official warnings like the one issued by the National Assembly Secretariat are so important — and why students, parents, and educators alike need to take them seriously and share them widely.
Final Thought!
The National Assembly of Pakistan has made its position clear: the Summer Internship 2025 selection is complete, and any ongoing fake internship ads claiming otherwise are fraudulent.
Students should verify every opportunity exclusively through na.gov.pk, never pay any fee to any entity claiming to represent the National Assembly, and report suspicious advertisements to the relevant platforms and authorities.
Share this article with anyone who is actively job or internship hunting — awareness is the strongest protection against these scams.
If you have already encountered a suspicious ad or been approached by someone claiming to represent the National Assembly’s internship office, reach out to official channels immediately. Stay alert, stay safe.
