POST BUDGET PARLIAMENTARY SEMINAR ON STATE OF ECONOMY WITH HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB (JUNE 22, 2022)

FUNCTIONARIES, MEMBERS, MEMBERS, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

A Parliamentary Seminar on State Of Economy and Annual Budget for honorable Members of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab was organized by Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in collaboration with EU funded Project “Mustehkam Parlimaan” in Avari Hotel, Lahore on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

The seminar proceedings began with the recitation of Holy Quran. The first session, on Key Economic Challenges of Pakistan with a focus on Punjab Economy was facilitated by Dr. Waseem Shahid Malik, SBP Chair of Economics in Peshawar University / Adjunct Faculty of PIPS since 2014 who conducted an absorbing interactive session on state and challenges of economy and presented the picture of Punjab Economy deliberating on data based evidence. He compared sectoral shares of economy and stressed that Punjab should impart more in agriculture and industry to achieve sustainable and real economic growth as well as putting forth the debt situation which is consuming a major chunk of national income in shape of debt servicing.

Mr. Dawood Ahmed, PFM Expert, Mustehkam Parlimaan, deliberated on issues pertaining to issues and challenges of National Finance Commission and Budget Books particularly salient features of Annual Budget Statements and Budget in Brief. In the last session, Mr. Aizaz Asif, PFM Expert from Mustehkam Parlimaan highlighted available parliamentary authority especially with regard to role of parliamentary committees in actual participation during all steps of budget making, authorization and scrutiny of various ministries throughout the year.

Honourable MPAs took overwhelming part in the discussion through an interactive Q&A Session. The seminar was attended by 42 participants including honourable MPAs, Mr. Kashif Ali Chishti, Ch. Javed Kausar, Mr. Awais Dareshak, Ms. Raheela Naeem, Ms. Shazia Abid, Syed Usman Mehmood, Ms. Talat Mehmood, Ms. Rashda Yaqub, Mr. Agha Ali Haider, Ms. Hira Butt, Syed Yawar Bukhari, Ms. Hina Butt, Mr. Muneeb ul Haq, Mr Ahmed Nadeem, Rana Shahbaz Ahmed, Ms Haseena Bhegam as well as officials of PIPS and Mustehkam Parlimaan.

The event organizing team was comprised of Mr. Muhamamd Rizwan Manzoor Assistant Director PIPS, Mr. Faisal Buttar, Coordinator EU-Mustehkam Parlimaan, Mr. Wajid Aslam, PIPS PRC Officer, and Mr. Qaiser Nisar Office Assistant PIPS PRC Lahore.

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.

POST BUDGET PARLIAMENTARY SEMINAR ON STATE OF ECONOMY WITH HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB (JUNE 22, 2022)

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