Seminar on Working of Parliament and PIPS, Visit of delegates from Government College University Faisalabad

October 8, 2019 OTHERS, OUTREACH, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Working on its mandate to reach out to the general public for wider understanding and dissemination of the working of Parliament, Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services organized a Seminar on Working of Parliament and PIPS for a delegation of 60 faculty and students from Department of Political Science & International Relations, Government College University Faisalabad on October 8, 2019 at its Main Campus in Islamabad. The participants included students enrolled in BS (Hon.), MA, Mphil, and Phd in Political Science, International Relations and Parliamentary Studies.

The event began at 10 am with National Anthem of Pakistan. Mr. Jamshed Rasheed, student GCUF, recited verses from Holy Quran and Ms. Tooba Maqsood, student GCUF, presented Naat Rasool-i-Maqbool (Sallallah – o – Alaihe Wa alehy Wasallam). Ms. Fakiha Mahmood, Research Officer PIPS moderated the seminar hosted by the PIPS Research and Legislation Wing.

Executive Director PIPS and Senior D.G (Research and Legislation) Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka, gave a two hour detailed interactive presentation on Constitution, Parliament and State-building. He elaborated the basic functions of a Parliament including representation, legislation, oversight and budget. The presentation was followed by an interactive Q&A session in which students raised a host of pertinent questions.

Dr. Ghulam Mustafa, Head of Department Political Science and International Relations GCUF, presented remarks as the head of delegation. He thanked PIPS for organizing the Seminar at its Main Campus followed by a visit to Parliament. He paid tribute to Mr. Zaka for an absorbing session on the Parliament and Constitution. Executive Director PIPS presented a set of PIPS publications to the Head of Delegation, and certificates of appreciation for the students for reciting verses from Holy Quran and Naat. The session concluded with vote of thanks and a group photograph. The delegation proceeded to the Parliament for an academic visit. The delegation left the Parliament House at 4 pm after group photo and proudly saying Pakistan Zindabad!!!

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.

Seminar on Working of Parliament and PIPS, Visit of delegates from Government College University Faisalabad

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