NACTA Officers one day orientation on working of the Parliament

January 29, 2025 CIVIL SERVANTS, ORIENTATIONS, OUTREACH, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) organized a one-day Orientation Session on the Working of the Parliament for the officers of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on January 29, 2025, at PIPS in Islamabad. The seminar was attended by around 21 participants including Director NACTA. Mr. Taj Muhammad, Deputy Director CB&D, moderated the event. The event began with a Quranic recitation, followed by welcome remarks by Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research) of PIPS. He welcomed the participants on behalf of the President PIPS BoG / Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Honourable Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and PIPS Team. He appreciated their eagerness for learning and sense of duty. The Director NACTA, Mr. Muhammad Iqbal Khosa thanked PIPS for offering an exceptional learning opportunity and emphasized on the importance of collective efforts in combating the menace of terrorism. The orientation session was designed covering working of the Parliament, covering legislative and non-legislative tools.

The first session, facilitated by Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research) at PIPS, focused on the Working of the Parliament. He explained on how democracy in Pakistan has emerged from the Islamic concept of socialist democracy and provided intuitions into the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In the end, he shed light on some important articles of Constitution of Pakistan that explicitly deal with the functions of the Parliament.

In the second session, Taj Muhammad, Deputy Director CB&D, PIPS, focused on the “Non Legislative Tools in the Parliament”, with special focus on ‘Question Hour and Committees’. Committees are instrumental in dealing with the complex, varied and demanding nature of parliamentary business. It is common to setup committees to assist the Parliament in its task of reviewing legislation and scrutinizing government activities. He discussed how Parliament utilizes questions to oversee government activities.

In the third session, Mr. Abdul Nabi Solangi, Deputy Director Legislation, PIPS, focused on the “Legislative Business: From Bill to an Act”. He explained the law-making process in the Parliament. He explained that the journey begins with the introduction of a bill in either the National Assembly or Senate. The bill is then reviewed by committees, debated, and amended. Afterward, it is voted on by the House where it originated. If approved, the bill moves to the other House for a similar process. Once both Houses agree on the bill, it is sent to the President for approval. If signed, the bill becomes an Act and is officially enacted into law.

The orientation concluded with a Q&A session and group photo, allowing participants to clarify their doubts. The day ended with a visit to the Parliament House, offering officers a firsthand experience of the Parliamentary environment.

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.

NACTA Officers one day orientation on working of the Parliament

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