ISLAMABAD, June 05, 2015: The incumbent PML-N government presented its third budget in the 14th National Assembly with a total outlay of Rs.4.31 trillion on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization presented the budget 2015-16 during the first sitting of the 23rd NA session.
The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were present during the entire sitting.
Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:
Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:
- The National Assembly met for two hours and 17 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1655 hours against the scheduled time of 1630 hours.
- The Speaker chaired the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of JI, PkMAP, PML-F, MQM, QWP, ANP, APML, JUI-F, AMLP, BNP and PML-Z were present.
- 178 members (52% of the total membership – 342) were present at the outset while 221 (65%) at the time of adjournment.
- A maximum of 236 legislators (69%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
- Eight minority members were present during the sitting.
Output
- The Finance Bill 2015 appearing on the Orders of the Day was taken up by the House.
- Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization laid papers on Supplementary Demands for Grants and Appropriations for the financial year, 2014-2015.
Representation and Responsiveness
- Presenting the budget, the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization addressed the House for two hours and two minutes.
Order and Institutionalization
- No Point of Order was raised during the sitting.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
- The copies of the budget speech were available to the concerned.
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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.