STEERING COMMITTEE OF GLOBAL PTIs CALLS ON PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THAILAND

October 21, 2026 INTERNATIONAL

The Steering Committee of the Global Network of Parliamentary Training Institutes (PTIs), led by Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and Chairperson of the Interim Steering Committee, has called on H.E. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate of Thailand, in Bangkok. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Issara Seriwatthanawut, Secretary-General of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of Honourable Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan/President of the PIPS Board of Governors, to H.E. Mongkol Surasajja. In response, the President of the Senate of Thailand expressed his appreciation and reciprocated the greetings and best wishes for the Honourable Chairman Senate of Pakistan.

H.E. Mongkol Surasajja fondly recalled his recent cordial and constructive meeting with Honourable Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), held in Arusha, Tanzania, in October 2026. He expressed his appreciation for the positive engagement and reaffirmed the importance of continued interaction between the parliamentary leadership of the two countries.

The meeting reflected the longstanding cordial relations between Pakistan and Thailand and underscored their shared commitment to strengthening parliamentary friendship, institutional cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and best practices. The engagement also highlighted the importance of parliamentary training institutions in enhancing the capacity of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff and promoting closer collaboration among legislatures worldwide.

The visit was a part of the ongoing efforts of the Interim Steering Committee of the Global Network of Parliamentary Training Institutes to advance international parliamentary cooperation. Pakistan, through PIPS, is serving as the Interim Secretariat of the Network and is leading preparations for the upcoming Global Conference of Parliamentary Training Institutes, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in February 2027, in collaboration with the IPU and participating PTIs.

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.

STEERING COMMITTEE OF GLOBAL PTIs CALLS ON PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THAILAND

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