Islamabad
Monday, the 1st December 2025

The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) hosted a delegation from the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) Campus for an interactive and educational exposure visit aimed at strengthening understanding of Pakistan’s parliamentary system among newly inducted civil servants.

Mr. Asim Khan Goraya, Executive Director PIPS, warmly welcomed the participants and congratulated the newly inducted PAS officers, describing them as the future custodians of Pakistan’s governance system. He emphasized that the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are entrusted with distinct roles under the Constitution, and that meaningful governance can only be ensured through mutual respect among these pillars of the state. Mr. Goraya underscored that citizen welfare must remain the foremost objective of governance and expressed confidence that the new officers will serve the nation with dedication and integrity.

Mir Shai Mazar Baloch, Director General (Administration), PIPS, delivered a presentation on the history and significance of parliamentary institutions. He explained that the establishment of institutions like PIPS was meant to support parliamentarians with the highest quality research and capacity-building services. Highlighting the unique standing of PIPS in Pakistan, he noted that although similar institutions around the world operate with more than 4,000 employees, PIPS effectively fulfills its mandate with only 139 staff members. He added that PIPS was formally established through the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services Act, 2008, marking the first initiative of its kind in the country.

Mr. Muhammad Rashid Mafzaool Zaka, Director General (Research), PIPS, briefed the delegation on the Constitution and key parliamentary functions. He noted that even the title of Pakistan’s Parliament is derived from Surah Ash-Shura, reflecting the Islamic foundation of consultative governance. Mr. Zaka walked the participants through the structure of Pakistan’s bicameral legislature, the constitutional framework, the distribution of powers, and the composition of the three tiers of government. He also explained the legislative process, types of legislation, and the procedure for passage of laws in Parliament. Additionally, he highlighted various non-legislative parliamentary tools and the critical role of the committee system. Quoting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s address to civil servants, he reminded the participants that civil officers are servants of the nation, not its rulers.

During the Question-and-Answer session, participants engaged actively by raising queries related to lawmaking, parliamentary procedures, and the technical assistance PIPS provides to federal and provincial legislatures.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks from the Civil Services Academy, appreciating the management of PIPS for organizing a highly informative and insightful program.