Seminar on “Foreign Policy of Pakistan- Challenges and Way Forward” for Members of Standing Committees of Foreign Affairs in Senate and National Assembly.

May 6, 2015 MEMBERS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services held a one day “Seminar on Foreign Policy of Pakistan.” Honourable Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Laghari, MNA and Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, presided the event, which was co-chaired by Honourable Senator Mr Farhat Ullah Babar. Ambassador (retd.) Masood Khan, Director General Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, deliberated on the subject as keynote speaker. Highlighting the challenges and opportunities, the country faces in its relations with the outside world, he covered all the essential aspects of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in a concise and effective manner including Pakistan’s relations with China, Afghanistan, US, Arab world, neighbours, Russia; Pakistan’s foreign policy decision making, its challenges today and way forward. PIPS Executive Director Mr Mehmood Salim Mehmood, welcomed the honourable members of foreign affairs committees in both the Houses and termed it a great opportunity to discuss intricacies of international relations. The Executive Director informed the audience that it is the fifth in series of round table seminars which started in November 2014 since when Institute has organized round table seminars on Pakistan’s security policy, human rights; constitution, Parliament and State Building and a Pre-Budget pilot activity with Chairpersons in Jan., 2015. Members of Parliament pro-actively participated to deliberate in depth the various challenges and opportunities to Pakistan’s foreign policy. Participants included Senators Mr. Farhatullah Babar, Maulana Atta Ur Rehman, Haji Momin Khan Afridi, Lt. Gen (r ) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Lt. Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum, Brig (r) John Kenneth Williams, Muhammad Javed Abbasi, and MNA Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan. Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, Director Research and IT, was Master of the Ceremony of the round table.

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.

Seminar on “Foreign Policy of Pakistan- Challenges and Way Forward” for Members of Standing Committees of Foreign Affairs in Senate and National Assembly.

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