Course on Parliamentary Business, Office Management and Parliamentary Research for Director Staff Working for Standing Committees at Senate of Pakistan.

April 6, 2015 COURSES, FUNCTIONARIES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

PIPS held a comprehensive three weeks course for 31 Director Staff working for the Standing Committees in Senate of Pakistan. Absorbing sessions by seasoned faculty from amongst leading serving and former officers from the Establishment Division, Senate of Pakistan, PIPS, STI, NDU and Balochistan Highcourt were conducted on imperative topics: Constitution, Parliament and State building, academic and Parliamentary research, assessing and drafting legislation for social change, report writing, minutes recording. All sessions were interactive with practical group as well as individual assignments and presentations. Mr Amjed Pervaiz, Secretary Senate, also was invited to give a key note address on role and responsibilities of Director Staff deputed to serve the committees of the House. Mr Mahmood Saleem Mahmood, Executive Director, PIPS, presented vote of thanks and distributed the certificates among successful participants, who acknowledged the PIPS team for such a memorable and comprehensive course.

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.

Course on Parliamentary Business, Office Management and Parliamentary Research for Director Staff Working for Standing Committees at Senate of Pakistan.

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