Participants of NIMS Senior Management Course Recognise PIPS as Centre of Parliamentary Excellence

May 10, 2017 OTHERS, OUTREACH, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Participants of National Institute of Management Sciences (NIMS) Senior Management Course visited the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services on Wednesday, the 10th May, 2017 as part of their ongoing course. They were welcomed by Director Research & IT Mr Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka who briefed them regarding the services and accomplishments of the institute followed by a brief tour of the building conducted by Mr Qazi Shams Uddin CIA and Mir Shai Mazar Baloch AD HR.

An interactive session was also held as a part of the visit among the participants and PIPS team led by Member of the National Assembly Honourable Malik Muhammad Uzair Khan who is also one of the Members of the Board of Governor of PIPS. The session was inaugurated by the Executive Director PIPS Mr. Zafarullah Khan who welcomed the participants and highlighted the major functions and services the institute provides by saying that it facilitates not only the Honourable Parliamentarians but also the MPA’s in various research and legislative business. Apart from the regular services, PIPS has also been actively arranging milestone conferences and seminars jointly with the National Assembly which includes 1st SAARC Young Parliamentarians Conference, International Parliamentary Conference on Kashmir, and International Conference for promotion of peace and tolerance by Women Parliamentary Caucus. It also serves cross party caucuses like, Senate Policy Research Forum, Young Parliamentarians Forum, Parliamentary SDGs Taskforce and the Women Parliamentary Caucus. Mr Zafarullah also mentioned the academic, social and political contributions by the Parliamentarians and the role of Parliament in building a strong and pluralistic State based on dialogue and democratic as well as constitutional principles.

Adding to the list of achievements, Honourable Malik Muhammad Uzair Khan praised the efforts of PIPS for being a good medium of interaction with the NIMS participants in this regard. He said that due to untiring effort, the institute has been successful in introducing parliamentary studies as a new discipline in 17 Pakistani universities. To minimize the gap between Parliament and common people (especially youth), the institute has held outreach sessions on Constitution, Parliament and Nation-Building with over 5000 college and university youth from all over Pakistan since 2014. Moreover, PIPS has regularly conducted several capacity building workshops and trainings for the members of the Parliament and it has conducted over 350 exclusive research papers for individual MPs and committees. He ensured that PIPS is committed to perform their onerous tasks of law making, executive oversight, policy making and representation according to the aspirations and will of the people of Pakistan. In only five years PIPS has published twenty seven books and the monthly Parliamentary Research Digest is today the most widely read parliamentary publications that is disseminated among 1700 including 1256 MPs, academia, think tanks and civil society. In an interactive session the participants expressed their appreciation that PIPS undoubtedly is parliamentary seat of excellence equal to any of its contemporary’s world over. Malik Muhammad Uzair Khan also hoped that the institute will continue to contribute its effort in promoting the values of a true democratic state for all times to come through its resilient and committed team. The Head of Delegation from NIMS presented a Memento and the vote of thanks Director Research and IT moderated the brainstorming session. The session concluded with a thorough Q/A session between the Honourable MNA Malik Muhammad Uzair Khan, participants, PIPS faculty and the Executive Director Mr Zafarullah Khan followed by a group photo.

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.

Participants of NIMS Senior Management Course Recognise PIPS as Centre of Parliamentary Excellence

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