MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CIVIL SERVICES ACADEMY, LAHORE PAKISTAN AND PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES

January 28, 2025 MOU

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Civil Services Academy, Lahore and the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services, Islamabad was signed on January 28^th, 2025 at PIPS Campus Islamabad. The Joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Civil Services Academy’s (CSA) Director-General, Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, and PIPS’ Executive Director, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya.

The PIPS is an exclusive and internationally recognized seat of Parliamentary learning established through an Act of the Parliament in 2008, offering legislative, research, capacity building and public outreach services to individual Honorable Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Committees. Civil Services Academy (CSA) conducts pre-service and in service training, in-line with the best international practices, and to enable officers to transform themselves into responsive, participatory, accountable and efficient civil servants in the Government of Pakistan through knowledge enhancement, skill development and attitudinal changes.

The agreement seeks to foster cooperation in training, research, and capacity building for civil servants, parliamentary staff, and government officials, promoting mutual growth and institutional development. Both parties will facilitate each other to deliver customized training sessions and refresher courses for parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and civil servants. They will jointly develop innovative learning modules tailored to their respective institutional mandates. Both the institutions agreed to organize educational events, including conferences, workshops, training programs, and seminars on mutually agreed topics in addition to exchange of experts. Collaboration on research initiatives and joint exposure visits to Parliament and Provincial Assemblies as well as Civil Services Academy was also agreed. This MoU sets a strong foundation for impactful joint initiatives, fostering institutional growth and improved service delivery.

Mr. Farhan Aziz Khawaja, Director-General Civil Services Academy (CSA), said:

“The partnership between CSA and PIPS, formalized through this MoU, reflects our shared vision of promoting academic excellence in governance and capacity building. Through joint efforts in training, research, and educational activities, we aim to equip civil servants with the necessary tools to meet contemporary challenges.”

Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) said:

“This MoU marks a significant milestone in fostering collaboration between the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services and the Civil Services Academy. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to strengthen Parliamentary capacity and governance. We look forward to developing impactful programs and capacity building events.”

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.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CIVIL SERVICES ACADEMY, LAHORE PAKISTAN AND PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES

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