ISLAMABAD, June 23, 2016: The Punjab Assembly approved two Demands for Grants during seventh sitting of 22^nd (Budget) session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation

• The Punjab Assembly met for four hours and 12 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1057 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was not present.
• The Chief Minister attended the sitting for 13 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for three hours and four minutes.
• The Finance Minister attended the sitting for three hours and 36 minutes.
• 23 lawmakers (6%) were present at the outset and 145 (39%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.

Output

• The House approved Demand for Grants worth more than Rs. 7.8 billion for the Ministry of Agriculture. Six lawmakers discussed Cut Motion on the demand that consumed 36 minutes of the proceedings. The Agriculture Minister took 12 minutes to wrap up the discussion.
• The House approved another Demand for Grants worth around Rs. 388.5 billion for the Ministry of Development. Six lawmakers discussed Cut Motion on the demand consuming an hour and 51 minutes. The relevant Parliamentary Secretary concluded the discussion in two minutes.
• Five lawmakers discussed a Cut Motion on Demand for Grants for Ministry of Health consuming 22 minutes.
• Moved jointly by treasury and opposition members, the House adopted a resolution condemning the killing of Qawwal Amjad Fareed Sabri in Karachi.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Moved by a PML-N lawmaker, the House referred a Privilege Motion to the relevant committee.

Order and Institutionalization

• The lawmakers spoke on four Points of Order consuming as many minutes of the proceedings.
• The entire opposition protested for five minutes against the absence of Health Minister during discussion on relevant Demands for Grants.

Transparency

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

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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.