Knowledge Sharing Session on Post Legislative Scrutiny and Delegated Legislation.

December 18, 2017 OTHERS

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in collaboration with the Westminster Democracy Foundation (WFD) organized a Knowledge Sharing Session on Post Legislative Scrutiny and Delegated Legislation on 18 December, 2017 at PIPS, Islamabad. Honorable Senator Taj Haider, Chairman Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation, was the chief guest of the Session; Mr. Franklin De Vrieze, Senior Governance Adviser WFD, and Mr. David Thirlby, Senior Programme Manager, Asia Programmes WFD, were the expert panelists for the Session. The participants of the Session included officials from the Legislative Drafting Councils of the National Assembly and Senate. The Session aimed at deliberating upon the process of post legislative scrutiny and delegated legislation in Pakistan in context of international best practices.

Mr. Franklin De Vrieze, highlighted the role of post legislative scrutiny in effective implementation of laws. He presented a comparative analysis of the existing post legislative scrutiny mechanisms in different countries. In this regard, he explained that in many countries permanent committees have been established for post legislative scrutiny. The worthy panelist identified some important parameters in scrutinizing legislation. He further emphasized on the need to determine the scope of the delegated legislation. Honourable Senator Taj Haider, explicated the role of Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation and posited that the Committee was established to thoroughly review the delegated legislation. He emphasized on the importance of parliamentary oversight over delegated legislation to uphold the rule of law. The officials from the National Assembly and Senate also shared their views on the post legislative scrutiny and expressed their desire that proper parameters need to be introduced for appropriate delegated legislation process. In the wake of growing need for post legislative scrutiny, it was suggested that a comprehensive training programme should be devised in order to enable the parliamentary staff to carry out thorough post legislative review.

The interactive session ended with feedback from the participants and a farewell note by the Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Zafarullah Khan.

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.

Knowledge Sharing Session on Post Legislative Scrutiny and Delegated Legislation.

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