Inaugural ceremony of the Orientation Programme for the Newly-Elected Honourable Members of the Senate of Pakistan June 15th -24th, 2021

June 18, 2021 MEMBERS, ORIENTATIONS

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), in collaboration with LEAD for SDGs Localisation in Pakistan, organized a six-day orientation programme for the newly-elected Honourable Members of the Senate of Pakistan on Parliamentary Business.

The programme commenced on June 15^th 2021, at the institute, with the recitation of few verses from the Holy Quran. Later on, Ms. Samer Awais, Director General Parliamentary Development Programme & Coordination Wing at PIPS, in her welcoming note, said that that the Role of leadership is a huge responsibility bestowed by the Allah Almighty on its chosen people. She highlighted that the orientation programme had especially been designed for the Honourable Senators encompassing core parliamentary business areas.

Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Executive Director PIPS, in his welcome remarks, paid regards to the Parliamentary leadership for their sustained trust in the institution and assured the honourable senators of PIPS’ ever readiness to assist them in the best way possible. Mr. Javed Hasan, Team Leader of LEAD, hailed such partnership as an ideal opportunity to interact with the legislature.

Towards the end, Honourable Senator Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan and President PIPS BoGs, in his inaugural address, shared his personal experience of learning the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate of Pakistan and hailed the orientation programme as an excellent opportunity to get to know about the working of the Senate of Pakistan. He also highlighted PIPS’s contribution aimed at the strengthening and enhancing the Parliamentary traditions in Pakistan and mentioned, that in near future, PIPS intends to organize learning streams for the Government officers to educate them on legislative and non-legislative business. The programme is scheduled to continue for six days in upcoming weeks.

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.

Inaugural ceremony of the Orientation Programme for the Newly-Elected Honourable Members of the Senate of Pakistan June 15th -24th, 2021

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