Capacity Building Seminar on Working of the Parliament for the Officers of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)

August 8, 2024 SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

August 8^th, 2024, Thursday, Islamabad: Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) organized a capacity building seminar on the “Working of the Parliament” for officers of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on Thursday, August 08, 2024.

The seminar was attended by around 31 participants including the worthy Director General NACTA, Ms. Saleha Zakir Shah. Ms. Tehseen Khalid, Director Research, moderated the event. Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, Executive Director, PIPS welcomed the participants on behalf of the President PIPS BoG / Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, Honourable Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and PIPS Team. He praised NACTA officials for their sense of duty, dedication and eagerness for learning. The Director General NACTA, Ms. Saleha Zakir Shah thanked PIPS for offering an exceptional learning opportunity and emphasized on the importance of collective efforts in combating the menace of terrorism.

Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka during his session explained the concept of sovereignty, as described in the constitution. He further elaborated on how democracy in Pakistan has evolved from the Islamic concept of socialist democracy and provided insights into the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In the end, he shed light on some important articles of constitution that specifically deal with the functions of the parliament.

In the panel discussion, Jam Mohammed Aslam, Additional Draftsman/Joint Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, focused on the “Legislative Tools in the Parliament”. He explained the law-making process in the Parliament and illustrated various types of bills. He also briefly explained about the important non-legislative tools such as bills, resolutions, questions, adjournment motions and calling attention notices, which are useful tools for NACTA officials.

Mr. Afzal Soomro, Deputy Secretary Legislation National Assembly of Pakistan, discussed the “Non Legislative Tools in Parliament, with special focus on ‘Question Hour’. He discussed how Parliament utilizes questions to oversee government activities, beginning with the difference between starred and unstarred questions. Then, he detailed the process for submission of questions on the floor of the house and described how it helps the parliamentarians to securitize the governmental actions.Top of FormBottom of Form

At the end, there was a brief question and answer session. The head of the delegation extended his special appreciation to PIPS team for their efforts in organizing the seminar for NACTA officials. The officials from NACTA presented a souvenir to the PIPS team. Following this, the NACTA delegation visited the Parliament House, where they were accompanied by Ms. Ayesha Tariq Khan, Assistant Director of Research, and Tanzil ur Rehman, Assistant PRC Office. Ms. Ayesha Tariq Khan and Mr. Wajid Aslam, Assistant PRC were among the organizers of the event. The event concluded with a group photo.

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.

Capacity Building Seminar on Working of the Parliament for the Officers of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA)

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