ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2019: Minister of State for Revenue concluded debate on the federal budget 2019-20 in National Assembly on Tuesday amid low attendance of lawmakers in the House, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during 12th sitting of the 11th NA session:
Members’ Participation
- The House met for eight hours and 22 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 28 minutes due to prayer break.
- The proceedings started at 1423 hours against the scheduled time of 1400 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the sitting for four hours and 35 minutes while the rest of the proceedings was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
- The Leaders of the House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
- A total of 86 lawmakers (25%) were present at the outset and 75 (22%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PPPPP, BNP, MMAP, GDA, MQM and AMLP attended the sitting.
- Seven out of 10 minority lawmakers were also present during the proceedings.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Thirty-eight lawmakers took part in the general discussion on the federal budget and spoke for five hours and forty minutes.
- Minister of State for Revenue winded up general discussion on the budget for the year 2019-20 and spoke for 47 minutes. A total of 75 lawmakers were present in the House during his speech.
- The House considered the recommendations made by the Senate on the Finance Bill 2019 and ten lawmakers spoke on it for 64 minutes.
- The House did not hold discussion on the Charged Expenditure included in Demands for Grants and Appropriations for the financial year ending on June 30, 2020.
.Order and Institutionalization
- Two lawmakers raised points of order consuming six minutes of the proceedings.
- A lawmaker spoke on a point of personal explanation for five minutes.
- The House was adjourned to meet again on June 26, 2019 (Wednesday) at 1100 hours.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly’s proceedings, conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted