The annual budgets for the Fiscal Year 2015-16 were approved in all provincial legislatures amid protests/walkouts/boycotts as the opposition lawmakers raised a significant number of cut motions against government demands for grants. More than half the members in each assembly refrained from participating in the general discussion on the budget.
ISLAMABAD, October 29, 2014: The Punjab Assembly passed seven bills, adopted nine resolutions and took up four Calling Attention Notices (CANs) as low attendance and lack of interest by members marred its 10th session, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its preliminary report based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly. On average, the session witnessed low attendance as 40 members (11% of the total members of 367) were present at the outset and 47 (13%) at the adjournment of each sitting.
Some positive steps were taken to enhance citizen's access to information in the Punjab Assembly in addition to amendments to existing laws during the fifth session. The session was otherwise marked by low interest of members in terms of attendance and participation, says Free and Fair Election Network in its session report based on the direct observation of the session. The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Bill 2013, which mandates government departments to ensure the provision of information to the citizens was passed in addition to ten amendments to existing laws.
As the Punjab Assembly grappled with the question of creating new provinces in the fifth parliamentary year, it passed bills to set up universities and curtail the trend of protracted litigation in disposing of land cases as part of the reforms package the provincial government announced for women, besides adopting the federal laws on the subjects devolved to the provinces under the 18th constitutional amendment. Overall the focus of legislation was education, women empowerment and the matters related to land and property.
ISLAMABAD, Jan 8, 2013: The 43rd session of the Punjab Assembly witnessed passage of 14 treasury-backed bills with three of them seeking to establish...
Amid national security concerns, poor law and order situation within the province, and demands for new provinces, the Punjab Assembly met for eight sessions between September...
