PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM

The Institute follows a strategy of multiple means to increase public outreach to enhance peoples’ understanding with regard to role and working of the Parliament. These include publications, website information, training and diversified programs involving college and university youth, women, media men, civil society organizations and people from all walks of life. The Institute has an elaborate outreach program where it intends to provide an interface between civil society, and the legislators for consultations on public policy matters, assessing legislations as well as holding public hearings.
PIPS is mandated to enhance the awareness of different strata of society with regard to role and working of the Parliament. In this context, the Institute has developed numerous publications in an otherwise short span such as the Members Orientation Booklet 2008, Senators Orientation Booklet 2009, Budget Analysis Guide for Parliamentarians, Discover the Parliament – PIPS guide for the Youth 2010, which have been distributed among members and civil society as well as uploaded on the institute’s website. The PIPS also runs a youth awareness program across all provinces of Pakistan with regard to enhancing their understanding of role and working of the Parliament and role of youth to engage the legislators.

Following are the major initiatives undertaken by PIPS in this regard:
Arranging information sessions, seminars, workshops and briefings for CSOs, media professionals and university students;
Arranging interactive sessions to answer queries from the public and media as well as to increase interaction with the elected representatives;
Assisting in organizing public hearings and policy dialogues on socio-economic issues to obtain and consolidate public opinion;
Using public input to develop and launch parliamentary development initiatives;
Assisting in the development of successful and meaningful constituency programs with emphasis on public meetings, constituency casework and tools to enhance member-constituent communication;
Conducting training programs related to developing effective media-parliament relations;
Publishing and widely circulating PIPS Newsletter, brochures, calendars, fact sheets and other pertinent publications related to the work of the parliament;
Organizing Parliament exposure visits for university students;
Updating and maintaining PIPS website; and
Carrying out research studies and publishing articles on a range of topics linked to parliamentary development.

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.

PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM

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