Roundtable on Supplementary Finance Bill 2018 for Honorable Members of National Parliament.

September 25, 2018 MEMBERS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services organized a Roundtable on Supplementary Finance Bill 2018-19 for Honourable Members of Federal Parliament on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 4 pm to 6.30 pm to discuss the macroeconomic conditions of the country and to analyze the salient features of the Supplementary Finance Bill 2018. Total of 25 participants attended including 11 newly elected Members of National Parliament, 05 academicians and area experts. The proceedings began with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the opening remarks by the worthy Executive Director PIPS Mr. Zafar Ullah Khan who welcomed the honourable participants and the learned panelists in the Institute. Mr. Muhammad Rizwan Manzoor, Research Officer, moderated the first segment.

Dr. Wasim Shahid Malik, SBP Honorary Chair & Professor of Economics at Peshawar University facilitated the first absorbing session on “State of Economy, Measures Taken & Way Forward” where he presented the current picture of the economy with background issues and possible remedial measures. Dr. Amanat Ali, Assistant Professor of Economics at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad facilitated the second session and underscored “An Appraisal on Salient Features of Supplementary Finance Bill 2018-19”. He elaborated different features of the Bill and sketched economic rationale behind the initiatives taken.

Later on an extensive interactive Q & A session was moderated by Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, Director General (Research & Legislation) where Honourable MPs discussed different points on the subject with the worthy panelists. The key points deliberated included:

Means to increase Exports of Pakistan
Salient Features of Supplementary Finance Bill 2018-19
Incentives to tax payers should be enhanced
Incentives to non-filers was termed unfair and unlawful and it was emphasized that non-filers should be banned from buying property and cars rather than promotion of such non compliance
Development budget cuts in social sectors was criticized and questioned by MPs
Raise in gas prices were put to question as it ll increase the bread for poor
MPs objected to increased debt services and check same by Partnership Interest Free Models for specific profit earning projects with friendly countries as the way forward
Question raised as to why there has not been any austerity or review of huge share of defence spending (22% of total GDP) rather than smaller civilian institutions
Need to see Islamic Banking Models
Presence of large chunk of Military budget within civilian heads was also noticed.

The event concluded with the vote of thanks by Honourable MNA Molana Asad Mahmood, Hon MNA Saad Waseem and Honourable MNA Ms Shahida Akhtar Ali who thanked Facilitators and acknowledged PIPS Team for organizing a very effective and imperative roundtable discussion.

On the direction of the Chairman Senate/President PIPS Board of Governors, the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), has implemented a comprehensive set of measures aimed at ensuring fiscal discipline, operational efficiency, and responsible utilization of public resources, on the same lines as notified and adopted by the Senate and National Assembly Secretariats.

Under the new measures, the Institute has adopted a four-day working week (Monday to Thursday), while introducing a hybrid working model whereby 50% of staff will perform duties from the office and 50% will work remotely on a rotational basis. Employees working from home will remain fully accessible through digital communication platforms and may be required to report to the office on short notice, ensuring uninterrupted institutional functioning.

Significant steps have also been taken to promote energy conservation. These include a target of achieving up to 70% reduction in energy consumption through minimizing unnecessary use of electricity and ensuring that official meetings, trainings, and events are scheduled during daylight hours. Foreign tours are banned and international meetings are being held virtually.

In the transport section, PIPS has introduced strict measures to curtail expenditure and 70% official vehicles have been grounded as part of this initiative.

As part of broader austerity efforts, 20% reduction has been imposed on the non-ERE budget for the fourth quarter of the current financial year. The officers drawing a monthly salary of PKR 300,000 or more, shall surrendered two days salary or 5% to 30% salary on gross as per Federal Government decision.

The Institute has also discontinued all non-essential procurements with immediate effect. Official functions such as dinners and receptions will not be hosted, except in the case of visiting foreign delegations, and even then, strictly in accordance with austerity protocols.

These measures have been implemented with immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders.

Under the guidance of President PIPS Board of Governors, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, PIPS remains fully committed to maintaining its core functions of parliamentary support, capacity building, and research while contributing proactively to national austerity and sustainability goals.

Roundtable on Supplementary Finance Bill 2018 for Honorable Members of National Parliament.

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