Knowledge Sharing Symposium on Human Rights for Officers of National Assembly, Senate and PIPS.

April 20, 2015 FUNCTIONARIES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

PIPS and IP3 EU jointly organized a week long knowledge sharing symposium on human rights which was attended by 20 participants including BS-18-20 officers of Senate, National Assembly and PIPS. Mr Hasan Nasir Mirbahar, senior experts IP3 and Mr Zulfiqar Shah from DRI discussed the international human rights covenants. On day two, Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, PIPS Director Research and It conducted an interactive session on Constitutions and Human Rights Framework of Pakistan followed by a session on CEDAW and CRC by Mr Muhammad Aslam Waseem (Addl Director, legislation). On day three PIPS Director research and IT conducted a group activity on Pakistan’s performance viz a viz delivery of human rights in which four groups deliberated to conduct gap analysis and made absorbing presentations. Mr Zafar Ullah Khan, CEO Civic Education Pakistan, was invited by PIPS to speak on 18th amendment and role of provinces in Human rights, while on final day Ms Valerie Khan GDP and Mr Salim Malik (CEO Bedari) were engaged by IP3 European Union team to discuss child rights, issues of child marriages and legislative reforms agenda. Mr Mehmood Salim Mehmood, Executive Director, PIPS presided the final day proceedings and distributed certificates among course participants. The Executive Director highlighted the importance of leading role by the Parliament and MPs in securing human rights to all Pakistanis.

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.

Knowledge Sharing Symposium on Human Rights for Officers of National Assembly, Senate and PIPS.

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