Members from Gilgit Baltistan Assembly visit PIPS eulogizing its parliamentary services, Tuesday the July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025 Delegation Visit

Islamabad, July 22, 2025: A six member delegation of the Women Parliamentary Caucus, Legislative Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), led by Hon Dilshad Bano, Minister for Social Welfare deptt and MLA, called upon the Executive Director PIPS Mr Asim Khan Goraya to deliberate on parliamentary services and initiatives for MPs and staffers. The women MPs eulogized the PIPS capacity building initiatives and the training for all Members of the GB Assembly, which they believed helped markedly in performing their day to day business on the Floor of the House. Hon MLAs Ms. Surriya Zaman (adv to CM), Mrs. Sadia Danish, (Deputy Speaker), Mrs Kaneez Fatima, Mrs Kulsoom Farman, Mr Abdul Razaq, Secretary GB Assembly and Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research) also attended the meeting.

Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director PIPS, remarked that PIPS services to all legislatures of the country reflects the Institute’s commitment to fostering academic initiatives as well as provision of quality oriented technical assistance of Hon MPs viz a viz legislative, research and training services so as to strengthen parliamentary development in Pakistan. He highlighted that PIPS is already taking forward the case of permanent status of membership for AJK and GB in PIPS BoG and meanwhile all PIPS services are being offered to MLAs and staff of both legislatures as per the observer status given to them by the PIPS Board.

Ms Kulsoom Farman appreciated that PIPS has a professional team of officers and experts who have great command over all aspects of parliamentary rules, working and oversight tools. In this context, PIPS provided essential training to all Members of the GB Assembly that helped enhance our performance in committees and caucus. Ms. Surriya Zaman, MLA, expressed the hope that PIPS will continue to provide all possible technical know how to MLAs and staff from GB Assembly in the future. The GB MLAs and Secretary Mr Abdul Razaq informed that they are visiting PIPS to present an official vote of thanks to Executive Director PIPS.

Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director PIPS, thanked the delegation for appreciating PIPS services. He reiterated the Institute’s commitment to parliamentary excellence where he offered that MLAs from GB are most welcome to visit PIPS for any legislative and research support. Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research) informed that PIPS has continued to train officers from GB Assembly and he expressed special thanks to Secretary GB Assembly Mr Abdul Razaq for regularly sending officers from GB to PIPS flagship National Parliamentary Development Course for many years. PIPS Executive Director Mr Asim Khan Goraya extended invitation to MLAs and officials from GB Assembly to continue availing the opportunity provided by PIPS capacity building initiatives from time to time as per vision of PIPS BoG.

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.

Members from Gilgit Baltistan Assembly visit PIPS eulogizing its parliamentary services, Tuesday the July 22, 2025

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