PIPS Interactive Session on Principles & Global Best Practices of Research for Senior Executives of ECP

February 3, 2025 CIVIL SERVANTS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

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The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) organized a one-day Training Session on the “Principles and Best Practices of Research” for the senior officers of the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday February 03, 2025, at PIPS Islamabad. Training Session was attended by around 16 participants including Director General (IT) policy and planning, Additional Director Generals, Director Research and other senior officers of Election Commission of Pakistan. Mr. Tanzil -ur- Rahman, Assistant PRC Officer (Research), moderated the session.

Following the National Anthem of Pakistan, the event commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research) PIPS delivered welcome remarks. He welcomed the senior executives of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on behalf of the President PIPS BoG /Honourable Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Executive Director and Team PIPS. Mr. Zaka appreciated the eagerness of ECP leadership for learning from services and working of the PIPS Research wing.

The first session, facilitated by Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, DG (Research) PIPS, focused on the Topic “Principles of Parliamentary Research and PIPS Research Services”. He apprised the participants of the structure and clusters of the research wing at PIPS, in line with international best practices as prescribed by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU). Mr. Zaka also narrated the journey of establishing PIPS from a small setting in 2009 with one researcher to consolidating through securing standards of research as a globally recognized parliamentary think tank and research mechanism in 2024-25 for the legislatures.

In the second session, Ms. Tehseen Khalid, Director (Research) PIPS, focused on the Topic “Research Products for MPs”. Ms. Tehseen oriented the participants on the research products offered by the research wing of the PIPS to the Members of Parliament, outlining the key differences in research formats, structures, and purposes. Ms Tehseen comprehensively shared standardized templates developed by PIPS as indigenous models now followed in supporting technically and professionally to individual MPs and committees.

In the third session, Mr. Qaiser Iqbal, Librarian, PIPS, focused on the Topic “PIPS Library Services”. He explained the Library services of PIPS, collection of library catalogs, its effective collaboration with other libraries and the resources available for the MPs, and the researchers.

The participants actively engaged in the sessions through questions and sharing experiences. The event concluded with vote of thanks from the Head of the delegation of ECP, Ms Nighat Saddique, Additional Director General (GSI). She acknowledged that such capacity building Training Sessions, including PIPS expertise in the field of research will be most helpful in developing the long awaited aspirations of creating a dedicated research wing in the Election Commission of Pakistan. The Training Session ended with presentation of souvenir by Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Asim Khan Goraya to Head of delegation of ECP and 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.

PIPS Interactive Session on Principles & Global Best Practices of Research for Senior Executives of ECP

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