Punjab Assembly Approves Supplementary Budget 2015-16

ISLAMABAD, June 29, 2016: The Punjab Assembly approved 37 Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2015-16 on Wednesday during last (11th) sitting of 22nd (Budget) session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation

  • The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 32 minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1118 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
  • The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
  • The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
  • The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and eight minutes.
  • The Finance Minister attended the sitting for two hours and 28 minutes.
  • 38 lawmakers (10%) were present at the outset and 105 (28%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
  • The parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
  • Eight minority members were present.

Output

  • The Finance Minister concluded the General Discussion on Supplementary Budget 2015-16. Her speech consumed 13 minutes of the sitting.
  • The House approved 37 Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2015-2016.
  • Eight lawmakers discussed two Cut Motions consuming 58 minutes. The motions were rejected by the House.
  • The Finance Minister laid the Supplementary Schedule of Authorized Expenditure for the year 2015-2016.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • The House referred an Adjournment Motion regarding increase in the shop’s rent in Sargodha to the relevant committee. Meanwhile, another AM was deferred.
  • The House also referred a Privilege Motion of PTI lawmaker to the Committee on Privileges.

Order and Institutionalization

  • The lawmakers spoke on five Points of Order consuming seven minutes of the proceedings.
  • A PML-N lawmaker protested on floor of the House against the remarks of a minister about lawmaker’s statement on budget spending of the Ministry of Human Rights.
  • A PTI lawmaker staged walkout at 1314 hours for not being allowed to speak on Cut Motions and did not return to the House till the adjournment.

Transparency

  • ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
  • Information on members’ attendance is available on the Assembly’s website.

The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.