Orientation Session for Senate Secretariat Interns at PIPS Islamabad, 2025

July 21, 2025 ORIENTATIONS

Empowering Youth to Engage with Parliament
The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) successfully organized an Orientation Session for Senate Secretariat Interns at PIPS Islamabad, welcoming 33 interns from different academic institutions to build foundational knowledge of parliamentary processes and constitutional values.
Opening:
The day commenced with the recitation of Holy Quran, followed by introductions. Mr. Shahab Khan, Assistant Director (PDP Wing), officially inaugurated the session, encouraging interns to actively engage with Pakistan’s democratic frameworks.
Know Your Parliament:
Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research), PIPS, led an engaging discussion on the Parliament’s functioning, constitutional principles, and civic responsibilities, inviting interns to share their understanding and reflections.
Legislative Process & Oversight:
Mr. Khurram Javed (Director, Legislation) explained how laws are made in Pakistan, from bills to passage, while Mr. Abdul Nabi Solangi (Deputy Director, Legislation) detailed Parliament’s oversight tools, committee functions, and question mechanisms, followed by an interactive Q&A session.
Research and Briefing Materials:
Ms. Bushra Rafique, Deputy Director (Research), Senate Secretariat, shared how briefing materials and research-based support are prepared for Senators, emphasizing the Research Wing’s critical role in informed decision-making.
Navigating the Senate Website:
Syed Khurram Hussain Naqvi, Director (I.T), Senate Secretariat, introduced the official Senate website and its key features during his session. He explained the purpose of each navigation tab, including Members, Committees, Sessions, and Publications, to help user’s access legislative and procedural information efficiently.
Intern Expectations & Reflection Activity:
Ms. Mariam Ahsan, Deputy Director (PDP), PIPS, concluded the session with an interactive reflection activity. Interns formed six groups, created chart presentations summarizing their learning, and presented to the audience, reinforcing teamwork and knowledge retention. She encouraged interns with best wishes for their journey ahead, sharing essential Senate mannerisms and decorum for professional conduct within parliamentary spaces.
The session empowered interns with practical insights, research skills, and the spirit of civic engagement, aligned with PIPS’s dedication to Parliamentary Excellence.

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.

Orientation Session for Senate Secretariat Interns at PIPS Islamabad, 2025

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