Workshop on “Technical Budget Reporting” for the Young Parliamentary Reporters of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (June 8, 2022)

June 8, 2022 CONFERENCES, EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, FUNCTIONARIES, NATIONAL, OUTREACH, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS

Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services organized a one day capacity building workshop on “Technical Budget Reporting” for the young Parliamentary Reporters of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) on the directions of Honourable Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on 8^th June 2022 at PIPS campus, Islamabad. The purpose of the workshop was to equip and train the young Parliamentary Reporters in technical budget reporting skills for the upcoming budget session. The event comprised three sessions including a discussion on Constitutional Provisions on Budget and the Rules of Procedure pertinent to the Budget, An Orientation to the Budget process and Technical Budget Reporting.

The Honourable Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan and President BOGs, PIPS, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Inaugural session commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the National Anthem. Director General PDP&C, PIPS, Ms. Samer Awais, briefed the audience on workshop objectives. The Executive Director, PIPS, Mr. Muhammad Anwar, formally welcomed the participants. Afterwards, Mr. Siddique Sajid, President PRA, in his opening remarks, thanked the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly for his support to organize the event. In his address, he appreciated the role of Parliamentary reporters in covering Parliamentary proceedings and encouraged them to report in a neutral and objective manner. He lauded PIPS for organizing the event and hoped that similar capacity building workshops will be organized in future as well. Around fifty reporters from eminent news channels covering parliamentary proceedings attended the workshop.

The session on “Constitutional provisions on Budget and Rule of procedure” was facilitated by panel members comprising the Additional Secretary (Legislation), National Assembly Secretariat, Mr. Muhammad Mushtaq and the Executive Director PIPS, Mr. Muhammad Anwar. The panel discussion was followed by an in depth presentation on the budget process by D.G Finance Haider Abbas who cited examples of budget documents previously laid in the budget proceedings. Technical subject experts, Mr. Muabarak Zeb Khan, Senior Economic Reporter Dawn and Mr. Riaz Taheem from Neo TV facilitated the last session on technical budget reporting. Mr. Mubarak Zeb emphasized on the significance of thorough reviewing and analysis of budget documents for the workshop participants. Workshop reporters remained engaged in the lectures and actively participated in sessions. The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks from the General Secretary (PRA), Mr. Asif Basheer Chaudhary, who acknowledged and expressed gratitude to PIPS for successfully organizing the much needed workshop. In the end, Director General PDP&C, Ms. Samer Awais thanked the National Assembly Secretariat and President Parliamentary Reporters Association for playing an active part in organizing the workshop for the young reporters.

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.

Workshop on “Technical Budget Reporting” for the Young Parliamentary Reporters of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (June 8, 2022)

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