Interactive meeting of PIPS Research Wing with Children’s Parliament on the Right to Education, Thursday, 09 July 2026

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), hosted a five-Member delegation from the Children’s Parliament on the Right to Education of the Thar Education Alliance on Thursday, 09 July, 2026, in Islamabad. The delegation was led by Ms. Qurat-ul-ain Mudasar, Advocacy and Communications Manager and comprised Ms Pryanka, Community Outreach Officer, and three child members of the Children’s Parliament, including the Child Chief Minister and the Opposition Leader. Mr. Jamshaid Asghar, Assistant Director (Research) moderated the event.

The interactive meeting was organized to provide the children with an invaluable opportunity to learn about working of PIPS and gain practical insights into the efforts being made to advance children’s rights and promote quality education.

The meeting commenced with the recitation of Holy Quran. In her introductory remarks, Ms. Tehseen Khalid, Director (Research), PIPS, welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Honorable Chairman Senate of Pakistan and President of the PIPS Board of Governors, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, and Director General (Research) Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka. She introduced PIPS to the visiting delegation as a premier parliamentary institution committed to strengthening the capacity of parliamentarians through research, legislation and capacity building services that contribute to informed decision-making and policy formulation. She also delivered a comprehensive presentation on the role of Parliament and PIPS in promoting Children rights, particularly the right to education. She also delivered a comprehensive presentation on the role of Parliament and the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services in promoting children’s rights, particularly the right to education. She highlighted PIPS’ legislative, research, and capacity-building contributions in this area, noting that the Institute has drafted a number of Private Members’ Bills aimed at advancing children’s right to education. She further informed the participants that, out of over 2,500 research papers produced by PIPS, approximately 107 have specifically focused on child education and their rights. In addition, PIPS has organized around 16 roundtable and seminars on children’s right to education, fostering informed dialogue among parliamentarians, policymakers, academics, and civil society to strengthen legislative and policy responses for ensuring quality education for every child.

Following her presentation, the Director General (Administration), PIPS Mir Shai Mazar Baloch briefed the delegation on the functioning of parliamentary caucuses, particularly the Young Parliamentarians Forum. He informed the delegation that PIPS was the first institution where the YPF Secretariat was established and that any Member of the National Assembly who is 45 years of age or younger at the time of his or her election is eligible to become a member of the YPF. He also discussed various youth related initiatives of YPF. Mr. Qaisar Iqbal, Librarian, PIPS, provided an overview of library services offered by PIPS which was followed by interactive Q&A Session.

Ms. Qurat-ul-Ain Mudassar, Advocacy and Communications Manager, delivered the vote of thanks. She commended PIPS for its proactive role in advancing children’s rights in the country and highlighted prospects for future institutional collaboration. She emphasized the need to appoint education counsellors in educational institutions to help children navigate the growing challenges associated with social media and artificial intelligence. She also proposed that members of the Child Parliament be invited to participate in relevant parliamentary committee proceedings so they can gain firsthand exposure to the legislative process while contributing their perspectives on issues affecting children. Furthermore, she expressed the Thar Education Alliance’s interest in long term collaboration with the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) to provide technical support and capacity-building training for Child Parliament members, thereby strengthening their knowledge and meaningful participation in parliamentary processes.

At the end, Executive Director, PIPS, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya presented a commemorative shield and a set of PIPS publications to the Head of the Delegation Ms. Qurat-ul-ain mudasar and team. The event concluded with a group photograph of participants with Executive Director, PIPS.

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.

Interactive meeting of PIPS Research Wing with Children’s Parliament on the Right to Education, Thursday, 09 July 2026

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