FIRST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCESSES AND CONSTITUENCY RELATIONS. FEBRUARY 27, 2020

February 27, 2020 MEMBERS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services internationalized its services with the successful conclusion of the first of its kind International Workshop on Parliamentary Processes and Constituency Relations held in Islamabad on February 27-28, 2020. PIPS is now offering courses to honorable Parliamentarians and functionaries to developing Parliaments of our region and world over.

The First International Workshop culminated with generous support of PIPS partner Tabeer/CDIP under the leadership of Mr. Niaz Ahmad. Parliamentarians’ and parliamentary functionaries from Cambodia, Turkey, and Pakistan participated in the two-days workshop which covered basic functions of a parliament in six thematically designed working sessions.

Graced by Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, Honorable Qasim Suri, as the Chief Guest, the inaugural ceremony began with National Anthem followed by recitation of verses from Holy Quran. The worthy Executive Director Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services thanked Honorable Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri for chairing the session. He welcomed Honorable Parliamentarians and parliamentary functionaries from Cambodia, Turkey and Pakistan. He paid regards to Country Representative Tabeer/CDIP, Mr. Niaz Ahmad for collaborating with Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services to organize this historical event.

Director General, Parliamentary Development Program & IT, Ms. Samar Awais moderated the session. She highlighted that the workshop aims to strengthen parliamentary democracy by bringing parliamentarians from different countries together for sharing parliamentary practices of their respective countries. The inaugural session was attended by Honorable Members of Parliament and parliamentary functionaries from National Assembly and Senate, as well as PIPS faculty.

The Workshop comprised of six thematic sessions including: 1) A Day in the Life of a Parliamentarian: Managing Constituency Relations and Outreach; 2) Powers of Committees in Effective Oversight; 3) Parliamentary Performance: Challenges and Opportunities; 4) Overview of Legislative Processes and Delegated Legislation; 5) The Power of Post Legislative Scrutiny in Effective Governance; 6)Emerging Parliamentary Practices.

Ms. Samer Awais, Director General Parliamentary Development Programme and I.T moderated the closing ceremony. She thanked Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director PIPS, for his untiring support, Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, Senior Director General Research and legislation, for envisioning PIPS to commence international parliamentary courses and his whole research and legislation team for providing much needed assistance before and during the event. She invited Mr. Muhammad Anwar for formal vote of thanks. He paid regards to the whole team, the participants i.e. Parliamentarians for the presence and active participation vis-a-vis sharing the expertise.

The ceremony concluded with the distribution of the certificate of participation among the participants of the conference. Honourable Senator Syed Mushahid Hussain Sayed was the chief guest who distributed the certificates. He appreciated the PIPS leadership for a dream come true inaugural international parliamentary workshop by the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services.

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.

FIRST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCESSES AND CONSTITUENCY RELATIONS. FEBRUARY 27, 2020

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