Training Workshop for Committee Staff of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan.

March 5, 2018 FUNCTIONARIES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

In continuation of Pakistan institute for parliamentary Services’ (PIPS) initiative of building capacity of Committee Staff, second event was held for the committee staff of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, in collaboration with UNDP from March 5-6, 2018, at PIPS Islamabad Campus. The aim of the workshop was to share knowledge amongst the course participants with regards to their role in assisting the Parliamentary committees in effective oversight of executive, arranging briefs and preparing minutes. The program was inaugurated by the Executive Director PIPS Mr. Zafarullah Khan, followed by Welcome remarks by Mr. Darren Nance, Chief Technical Advisor, SELP, UNDP. Director Training, Ms. Samer Awais shared with the participants Program overview. First session of the day was about the Role of Secretary Committees, which was facilitated by former Secretary Senate of Pakistan, Mr. Iftikharullah Babar. He further shared with the participants the “The Dos and Don’ts of Writing Minutes in Parliamentary Committees”. The afternoon session was facilitated by Sheikh Sarfraz, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, who conducted a session on “How to minute debate on Bills”. On Day2, Mr. Babar facilitated a practicum session, which provided an opportunity to the participants to receive feedback on their Minutes Writing skills. Last session of the day was facilitated by Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad, Additional Secretary, the National Assembly of Pakistan, who shared with the participants best practices of National Assembly with regards to Committees’ Meetings and preparation of Working papers. The event concluded on March 06, 2018 with closing ceremony and the worthy Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Zafarullah Khan, distributed certificates amongst the course participants. In the end, course participants expressed their desire to run such events on a regular basis. In the end, Director Training, Ms. Samer Awais thanked UNDP and course participants for making this event a success.

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.

Training Workshop for Committee Staff of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan.

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