Meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

September 29, 2025 Coordination Meetings, EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, FUNCTIONARIES, MEMBERS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), in collaboration with Mustehkam Parlimaan (MuP) – a project funded by the European Union – organised a two-day consultative meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The programme was attended by seventeen Honorable Members and ten secretariat officers, centered on the theme “Strong Committees Make a Strong Legislature”. The meeting provided a platform for exchanging experiences, reviewing the Rules of Procedure, and strengthening the Assembly’s committee system.

Mr. Taj Muhammad, Director (Parliamentary Development Programme), PIPS, welcomed participants, highlighting this was the third workshop in the series, following the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and Balochistan.

Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, warmly welcomed participants of the workshop. He highlighted the vital role of committees as considered the “eyes, ears, and brain” of legislatures worldwide, citing practices from the UK, US, and Commonwealth countries. He praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for strengthening committee powers under the Speaker’s leadership through adoptation of new Rules. He also acknowledged Mustehkam Parlimaan’s partnership and PIPS’ dedicated support for designing and implementing such learning events. Stressing that true legislative strength lies in oversight, fairness, and integrity, he expressed confidence that the discussions would enhance parliamentary practices and democratic accountability in the province.

The first session of the programme was co-chaired by Honorable Senator Farhatullah Babar and Senator Mohsin Leghari.

Senator Farhatullah Babar congratulated the Members and the Honourable Speaker Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to pass and adopt the Rules of Procedure adding that it has empowered the standing committees, in addition to the provincial legislature in true spirit. Next, he provided a guidance on how to use the newly adopted Rules that empower the Committee Chairs to make the standing committees more effective. Terming strengthening committees as an evolutionary process, Senator Babar cited the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reforms as a model.

Senator Mohsin Leghari shared his legislative background and advocated for empowering committees. He draws attention to the use and abuse of the newly reformed Rules of Procedure and shared that the chairpersons should see these reforms as responsibilities in addition to powers. The facilitator also shared a checklist with the participants, the use of which will help the standing committees function more effectively. He also emphasized the need for committee chairs to actively engage researchers to strengthen committees.

The second session of the programme was jointly facilitated by Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Former Executive Director PIPS and Mr. Naeem Ullah, Additional Secretary, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr. Muhammad Anwar, described committees as vital for legislative work and public engagement. He outlined types of committees, comparative analysis of Committees of other legislatures and their functions. He discussed the newly adopted rules of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in comparison with other provinces and the federal legislature.

The third session was facilitated by Syed Mohsin Masood Bukhari, Special Secretary (Legislation) Punjab Assembly on Tools and Techniques to assess draft bills at committees.

Day second of the event focuses on presentation of draft Five Year Strategic Plan of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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.

Meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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