Interactive Session on “Data and Analytics for Policy Success”.

July 12, 2017 FUNCTIONARIES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services held an interactive session on “Data and Analytics for Policy Success,” on Wednesday, 12th July 2017 under the auspices of Professor Dr. Asim Ijaz Khwaja. The session was attended by researchers from both National Assembly and the Senate, along with joint secretaries, debate editors as well as several members of the PIPS team. Dr. Asim Ijaz Khwaja is a Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and a board member at the Center for Economic Research Pakistan (CERP).

The session began with introductory remarks by Senior Research Officer PIPS, Tehseen Khalid, followed by the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. The Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Zafarullah Khan then welcomed Dr. Asim Ijaz Khwaja and his team to PIPS expressing his excitement to listen to his ideas and expertise regarding data and analytics. He emphasized the need to acquire this skill as crucial.

Dr. Asim began the session by asking the audience to briefly introduce themselves. He then introduced CERP and Evidence for Policy Design (EPoD) to the audience. Dr. Asim pointed out that it is necessary for every decision to be based on information and conclusive evidence for it to be effective. We cannot make decisions void of data which surrounds us in abundance. He informed the audience that in today’s and age one cannot avoid data; 90% of the world’s data has been generated in the past two years. This abundance of data has significantly altered the manner in which policies are made. Two ways in which the practice of informed evidence based decisions can be made common is firstly, by training (the civil society, media, academia, politicians and parliamentarians) and secondly, forming active collaborations and partnerships.

Dr. Asim mentioned that today the definition of “smart” has evolved from acquisition of knowledge to an individual or an organization that continues to learn, experiment and adapts frequently. Hence those institutions flourish which continuously evolve and maintain a certain level of curiosity. He pointed out 3 ways in which we can get our institutions and organizations to behave in a smart manner: be open to new data, use theory to organize data and use data to test and refine existing theories. He emphasized the need to build and manage a learning organization. For this he informed the audience of the SPDI approach which involves 5 stages: identify, diagnose, design, implement and test and refine. He concluded the talk by encouraging the audience to adapt to new data and avoid the practice of staying stagnant and fixated in what we already know. He also advised the audience to be problem driven rather than solution driven by digging deep into the roots of the problem and developing long term solutions.

The talk was followed by a question and answer session in which the audience actively engaged with the guest speaker. Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Zafarullah Khan thanked the guest speaker for imparting his expertise and for his time. The session concluded with the Executive Director PIPS presenting Dr. Asim Ijaz Khwaja with a token of appreciation.

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 Session on “Data and Analytics for Policy Success”.

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