MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES (PIPS) AND UN WOMEN PAKISTAN

May 4, 2026 MOU

The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and UN Women Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at PIPS, Islamabad. The signing ceremony was held at 12:00 noon.

The event was graced by Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director, PIPS, and Mr. Jamshed M. Kazi, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, along with the senior management of both organizations

The MoU aims to promote inclusive governance, gender equality, and evidence-based policymaking through enhanced parliamentary capacity building and oversight. It provides a structured framework for knowledge sharing, joint research, institutional strengthening, and collaborative programs focused on gender-responsive legislation, budgeting, oversight, and women’s political participation.

The meeting commenced with welcome remarks by Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director PIPS, who acknowledged the commitment and enthusiasm of the UN Women team for the MoU ceremony. Mr. Jamshed M Kazi, Country Representative UN Women Pakistan, commended PIPS for its outstanding performance at both national and international levels. He also highlighted the success of the existing partnership between UN Women and PIPS, under which several joint initiatives have been effectively implemented. He noted that formalizing this collaboration through the MoU was long overdue and would facilitate more structured and efficient cooperation going forward. He further expressed appreciation for the PIPS team for its consistent support in the implementation of UN Women’s programs.

ED PIPS reciprocated the appreciation and thanked UN Women for its valuable support in programs aligned with PIPS’s mandate. He acknowledged the current economic challenges and informed that due to global conflicts and the austerity measures announced by the Government of Pakistan, all programs were subject to vetting by the austerity committee. He expressed hope that partnership with UN Women would help bridge resource gaps, allowing the continuation of essential capacity-building initiatives.

Mr. Kazi also praised Pakistan’s constructive role in international peace efforts in recent conflicts. He particularly appreciated Pakistan’s positive mediation contributions in current conflicts, involving US and Iran that enhanced Pakistan’s global image as a peace-loving nation and positively impacted the international image of Pakistan.

The Executive Director, PIPS, informed the participants that the PIPS was a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) network of Parliamentary Training Institutes (PTI’s). He further highlighted that the PIPS was privilege to have the opportunity of hosting the second PTI’s International Conference in February 2027. In response, UN Women expressed its willingness to support such future international initiatives of the PIPS.

The partnership reflected a strong convergence of mandates, the PIPS as Centre of Excellence for parliamentary research and capacity development, and UN Women as the global leader in gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Both institutions expressed confidence that this MoU will serve as a living instrument for tangible impact, translating commitments into concrete action, strengthening democratic institutions, and advancing women’s meaningful participation in decision-making processes.

The ceremony concluded on an optimistic note, with both sides viewing the partnership as essential for building resilient, inclusive, and gender-responsive democratic systems in Pakistan.

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 PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES (PIPS) AND UN WOMEN PAKISTAN

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