Dialogue between Pakistani and US parliamentarians on Role and Working of Parliamentary Committees in conducting accountability of Executive on February 24, 2012

February 24, 2012 Delegation Visit

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Dialogue between Pakistani and US parliamentarians on Role and Working of Parliamentary Committees in conducting accountability of Executive on February 24, 2012: The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services and the US House Democracy Partnership (HDP) jointly held an absorbing dialogue on effective role of parliamentarians in oversight and public accounts as well as constituent relations and outreach between parliamentarians of Pakistan and a delegation of US Congress led by founding Chairman of US House Democracy Partnership, Congressman Mr David Drier. Mr Khan Ahmad Goraya, Executive Director, welcomed the visiting delegation of US Congressmen and staffers as well as Pakistani parliamentarians at PIPS and elaborated the achievements of PIPS in a short span of time and objectives of the dialogue. Senator Jehangir Badr, also expressed his gratitude to US delegation for their arrival in the country. Senator Jehangir Badar expressed the hope that parliamentarians provide a natural and most effective diplomatic and peace-building forum, which needs to be trusted and utilized befittingly with regard to promoting ties between US and Pakistan in the future.

The PIPS and HDP dialogue comprised of two sessions for parliamentarians and a session for functionaries of Senate, National Assembly and PIPS professional staff on role of professional staff at the Parliament. The US delegation, included fiveCongressmen Mr David Drier, Mr James Moran, Mr Joe Wilson, Mr Adrian Smith and Mr Kenny Merchant who interacted with twenty two Pakistani parliamentarians led by Senator Jehangir Badar, including Senator Saeeda Iqbal, Senator Tariq Azeem, Senator Waqar A Khan, Senator Haji Adeel, Senator Seemi Siddiqui, Senator Sughra Imam, Senator Islamuddin Sheikh and Senator Abbas Khan Afridi inaddition to 13 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) including MNA Ms Yasmeen Rehman, MNA Ms Fauzai Wahab, MNA Ms Kashmala Tariq, MNA Ms Farzana Raja, MNA Ms Pulwasha Khan, MNA Ms Asiya Nasir, MNA Mr Noor Alam Khan, MNA Mr Nadeem Afzal Gondal, MNA Mr Moazam Ali Khan Jatoi, MNA Mr Naseer Bhutta, MNA Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, MNA Ms Fouzia Ejaz Khan and MNA Mian Abdus Sattar. The two sides candidly exchanged views regarding the fluid Pakistan-US relations in the wake of uncalled for developments such as the November 2011 Salala incident. Therefore, both sides felt the need for greater and more frank discussions on similar lines, which they hope would be catered for by PIPS as it starts its full-fledged functions in the new campus.

The second session saw an interactive interaction between professional staffers of five US and around 23 senior Pakistani officials of the legislation, committees and research wings of Senate and the National Assembly as well as the research and human resource wings of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services. The two sides shared their experiences while the US delegation led by Brad Smith and John Lis reflected some best practices of a professional parliamentary staffer with their Pakistani counter-parts. In the end, the US Congressmen and Pakistani parliamentarians thanked the HDP and PIPS for such active parliamentary exchange.

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.

Dialogue between Pakistani and US parliamentarians on Role and Working of Parliamentary Committees in conducting accountability of Executive on February 24, 2012

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