Prices of many commodities, services increased in May

ISLAMABAD, June 9, 2010: Consumers, in various parts of the country faced relatively high increases in the prices of a few food items (such as potato, tomato, turmeric and green tea) in the month of May 2010, as compared to the previous month (April 2010). The prices of as many as 35 consumer commodities and services registered increase while as many as 33 consumer items were available on comparatively cheaper prices in May, according to FAFEN’s Retail Price Monitor, launched here Wednesday.

 
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22% MNAs present at the outset of the 5th Sitting

ISLAMABAD, June 9, 2010: The low attendance fifth sitting of the 23rd session met for three hours and thirty eight minutes, with 76 members present at the outset and 90 members at the end. The Prime Minister attended the sitting for 59 minutes while the Leader of Opposition remained absent, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on the Fifth Sitting of the 23rd Session of the National Assembly proceedings.

 
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Budget debate begins with 106 minutes speech by Opposition Leader

ISLAMABAD, June 8, 2010: The fourth sitting of the 23rd session of National Assembly started 50 minutes late. The Leader of Opposition addressed the house for 106 minutes, while in response the State Minister for Information and Broadcasting addressed for 32 minutes. The House witnessed two walkouts on the issues of the price hike of electricity, the prevailing conditions of the country and non implementation on Supreme Court orders, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on the Fourth Sitting of the 23rd Session of the National Assembly proceedings.

 
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Budget Presentation attracts more than 72% MNAs to NA Sitting

ISLAMABAD, June 5, 2010: The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue presented the budgetary proposals at the third sitting of the 23rd session of the National Assembly. The sitting started late by an hour and two minutes and lasted an hour and 20 minutes, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on the Third Sitting of the 23rd Session of the National Assembly proceedings.

 
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Second Sitting of 23rd Session lasts 2 Hours and 14 Minutes

ISLAMABAD, June 4, 2010: The second sitting of the twenty third session met for 2 hours and 14 minutes with 57 members present at the outset. The parliamentary proceedings were suspended for 17 minutes due to lack of quorum, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Second Sitting of 23rd Session of the National Assembly Proceedings.

 
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First Sitting of 23rd Session Marked by low MNA Attendance

ISLAMABAD, June 3, 2010: The 23rd Session of the National Assembly started here on June 3, 2010, with 112 members present at the outset and 42 members present at the end. The Quorum was lacking at various stages during the sitting. However, the lack of quorum was not pointed out by any of the legislators, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on First Sitting of 23rd Session of the National Assembly Proceedings.

 
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20% BHUs not prepared to cater to female patients’ needs

PESHAWAR, May 28, 2010: Lack of personnel and facilities to serve the primary health care needs of women is among the issues of greatest concern, reveals FAFEN’s inaugural Health Institution Monitor for April 2010 released in Peshawar on May 28, 2010.

 
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FAFEN Pinpoints College Governance Issues

LAHORE, May 26, 2010: More than one-third of lecturers posts are vacant in 106 boys colleges monitored nationwide during April 2010, says the FAFEN Education Institution Monitor released here Wednesday.

 
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Sporadic violence, heavy police presence, incidents of fraudulent voting mark Vehari by-Election

ISLAMABAD, May 15, 2010: Relatively lower female turnout, heavy presence of police inside and outside polling stations, sporadic violence at polling stations, campaigning and canvassing by supporters of contesting candidates and some incidents of fraudulent voting characterized the by-election for the NA-167 constituency of the National Assembly [Vehari-I], reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Preliminary Report of NA-167 By-Election Observation.

 
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Low female Turnout, Heavy Presence of Police mark NA-178 by-Election

ISLAMABAD, May 15, 2010: Low turnout, incidents of fraudulent voting and heavy presence of police and security officials inside polling stations marked the by-election for the NA-178 constituency of the National Assembly [Muzaffargarh-III], reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Preliminary Report of NA-178 By-Election Observation.

 
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