POLICY DIALOGUE ON CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE, March 2023

Editorial

Climate change and food security are the two most important concerns that Pakistan is experiencing.
Pakistan’s dependence on agriculture accounts for around 24% of its GDP. More than 65% of people in our
country directly rely on agriculture for their living. The agriculture sector is dealing with a number of issues
right now, some of which include crop diseases, water scarcity, land shrinkage, and climate change. Pakistan
is not an exception when it comes to the urgency of the global issue of climate change. The country is
particularly vulnerable to climate change’s effects, including as rising sea levels, floods, droughts, and extreme
weather events. The situation is grim in Pakistan, a country that directly hit by global climate change in the
shape of higher temperatures, melting of glaciers and catastrophic floods. We witnessed the severest effects
of climate change, with unprecedented floods in 2022.
Increasing agricultural productivity necessitates the adoption of sustainable agriculture, which refers to the
efficient production of safe, high-quality agricultural products while protecting and improving the natural
environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, agricultural workforce, and local communities,
and safeguarding the health and welfare of all species.
The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services is a premier Institute and exclusive learning seat for
Members of Parliament from across the country. As the policy makers are confronted with the nexus of
challenges of declining productivity, increasing food insecurity and climate change, the Parliamentary
Committees are eager to take well-researched and data-driven deliberations into policy discussions and
expedite their translation in policy measures. This policy dialogue on Climate Smart Agriculture has been
organized to bring policy makers, academia, multilateral partners and private sector at one forum, discuss the
challenges being confronted by the stakeholders and deliberate potential solutions to overcome these
challenges. The recommendations of the session will be presented in relevant Parliamentary Committees to
bring the issue in the consideration of policy makers and provide them assistance in highlighting the matter of
public concern on the floor of the Parliament.
We are pleased to present proceedings of the policy dialogue for a happy reading. The Institute recognizes the
support of its partner Syngenta Pakistan for holding this roundtable discussion on March 07, 2023.

Muhammad Anwar
Executive Director,
Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services

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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.

POLICY DIALOGUE ON CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE, March 2023

Editorial

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