PIPS and CPA Unite to Promote Democratic Governance and Parliamentary Learning in Asia and Beyond.

February 8, 2025 Coordination Meetings

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On February 8, 2025, a significant meeting took place between the leadership of the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on the sidelines of 1st Joint CPA Asia & South-East Asia Regional Conference at the Punjab Assembly Secretariat in Lahore. The meeting was attended by Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director, PIPS, Mr. Jarvis Matiya, Deputy Secretary-General of CPA, Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, Director General (Research), PIPS, Ms. Samar Awais Director General (PDP), PIPS, Mr. Muhammad Rizwan Manzoor, Assistant Director (Research), PIPS, Mr. Naeem Shoukat, Assistant Director (CPD), PIPS and Mr. Oz Russell, Communication Officer, CPA.

The discussions began with Mr. Asim Khan Goraya expressing PIPS’ deep appreciation for CPA’s unwavering commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and fostering parliamentary exchanges across the Commonwealth. He highlighted the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between PIPS and CPA in May 2023, which laid the foundation for a robust partnership.

PIPS also shared its vision of becoming CPA’s Regional Training School, offering specialized training programs for MPs and parliamentary staffers. This initiative seeks to position PIPS as a center of excellence for parliamentary learning in Asia and beyond. Additionally, PIPS emphasized its commitment to capacity building, proposing faculty and staff exchanges with CPA to share best practices in parliamentary procedures, legislative innovations, and governance frameworks.

In response, Mr. Jarvis Matiya thanked PIPS for its remarks and reaffirmed CPA’s commitment to deepening collaboration with PIPS. He welcomed the proposal for a joint event for international parliamentarians and assured that the proposal would be presented to CPA’s higher management for further action. Mr. Matiya commended PIPS’ focus on capacity building for young officials, emphasizing its importance for institutional development. He assured full support for PIPS’ inclusion in future CPA events and extended an invitation to the Executive Director of PIPS to visit the CPA Secretariat in London. In return, Mr. Goraya invited Mr. Matiya to visit PIPS’ Islamabad office, with both invitations being accepted.

The meeting underscored the strong partnership between PIPS and CPA, with both organizations expressing mutual appreciation for each other’s contributions to parliamentary development. The discussions laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation, including joint initiatives, capacity-building programs, and regional workshops, aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and fostering parliamentary excellence across the Commonwealth.

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.

PIPS and CPA Unite to Promote Democratic Governance and Parliamentary Learning in Asia and Beyond.

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