ISLAMABAD, January 29, 2019: The Senate took up its entire agenda while continuing the debate on the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during seventh sitting of the 286^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for three hours and 42 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 17 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1530 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of House attended the sitting for three hours and 14 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for an hour and 35 minutes.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 11 lawmakers (10%) were present at the outset and 14 (13%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PPPP, PTI, MQM, ANP, JI and PML-F attended the sitting.
• As many as two out of four minority lawmakers were present.

Output

• Chairman Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented a report of the committee on a Starred Question regarding the wheat production during the last five years.
• On behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, a member of the committee presented its reports on the Banking Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the SBP Banking Services Corporation (Repeal) Bill, 2018 and the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

• The House granted 60-day extension to the Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs for presentation of its report regarding problems being faced by advocates and politicians in opening their accounts in the banks or any financial institutions.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as nine lawmakers participated in the debate on the Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 consuming an hour and 54 minutes of the proceedings.
• Sponsored by a PPPP lawmaker, the Minister of State for Revenue responded to a Calling Attention Notice about missing revenue targets.
• As many as 11 lawmakers spoke on points of public importance consuming 44 minutes of the proceedings.

Order and Institutionalization 

• As many as three lawmakers spoke on Points of Order (POs) consuming nine minutes of the proceedings.
• The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs spoke on a point of personal explanation for four minutes.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on January 31, 2019 (Thursday) at 1500 hours.

Transparency

• Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.

• The attendance of lawmakers is available on the website.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted