Orientation Program for National Assembly Interns

OTHERS

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services quick-started more than a week long course for the interns to be deputed in the National Assembly of Pakistan. The cohort of 25 interns having degrees in various disciplines including International Relations, Management Sciences, and Political Science, and belonging to various parts of the country including FATA as well as Gilgit-Baltistan, will be given sessions by PIPS seasoned faculty as well from external facilitators during the course of the orientation. During the Inaugural session, which began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, Acting Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, welcomed the participants and gave an absorbing session on “Constitution, Parliament, and State-Building.” Beginning with the basics of the subject, including definition of the Constitution, Parliament and the role of Parliament, he went on to link the authority of Parliament with the state-building in a given country. As the orientation program proceeds, the participants will briefed on topics including: Pakistan’s constitutional history, Introduction to Rules of Procedure of National Assembly, Organizational Behavior, Principles of Parliamentary Research, Team Building, Time and Task Management, Parliamentary Office and its Branches and the role of the Secretariat, Parliamentary Oversight, Committees – their role and function, Minute-writing skills, Report writing, Presentation and communication skills, and Office Management. Participants will receive certificates of completion at the end of the orientation 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.

Orientation Program for National Assembly Interns

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