House and Committee Business: Responsibilities and Functions of the Officers and staff of the Secretariat in Gilgit Baltistan Assembly. 10th to 14th October, 2022

CIVIL SERVANT, CIVIL SERVANTS, COURSES, EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, FUNCTIONARIES, FUNCTIONARIES, MEMBERS, OTHERS, OUTREACH

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) organized a week long on-job training for the officers and staff of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly Secretariat from 10^th to 14^th October, 2022 at the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Assembly Secretariat. The objective of the workshop was to enable the Secretariat officers and staff to have a better understanding of the House and Committee Business: Responsibilities and Functions of the Officers.

The programme commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by a brief round of introduction from the workshop participants by Mr. Shahab Khan, Assistant Director, Parliamentary Development Programme (PDP). Mr. Abdul Razzaq, Secretary GB Assembly, thanked PIPS functionaries and acknowledged their efforts for arranging the workshop. Worthy Executive Director, Mr. Muhammad Anwar welcomed the participants, and briefly gave an overview of the training to the participants. He highlighted key themes and programme details planned for the four day workshop. Mr. Anwar commenced the first session on Rules, Provisions, Practices and Responsibilities of Parliamentary Staff in connection with Questions. He elaborated on the function and role of the Honourable Members which comprises of representation, legislation, policy guidelines and oversight emphasizing that “Executive is answerable before the august House”. Furthermore, he also discussed the responsibilities of the Assembly staff which are provision of assistance to the Assembly, Speaker, Committees and Members. Government, private and Assembly business are main classes of House business. There are main two types of Assembly business like legislative and non-legislative. After that he thoroughly discussed the Question from non-legislative tools. The day ended with a practical session designed for the Secretariat officers that was convened by Mr. Muhammad Anwar.

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.

House and Committee Business: Responsibilities and Functions of the Officers and staff of the Secretariat in Gilgit Baltistan Assembly. 10th to 14th October, 2022

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