ISLAMABAD, January 11, 2022: The National Assembly opened debate on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 with speech of the Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the second sitting of 40th session:

Members’ Participation

• The National Assembly met for four hours and 50 minutes; however, the proceedings remained suspended for 22 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 04:30 pm against the scheduled time of 04:00 pm.
• The speaker chaired the sitting for an hour 43 minutes while the remaining sitting was presided over by a member of panel of chairpersons.
• The leader of the house (Prime Minister) did not attend the sitting.
• The opposition leader was present for an hour and 54 minutes.
• The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, ANP, BAP and MQMP attended the sitting.
• As many as 67 (20 percent) lawmakers were present at the outset and six (two percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• Seven minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• The House witnessed introduction of five government bills which were the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Bill, 2021; the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fuana and Flora (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority Bill, 2021.
• Four ordinances were also laid in the House which included the Pakistan Nursing Council (Emergency Management) Ordinance, 2021; the National Rahmatul-Lil-Aalameen Authority Ordinance, 2021; the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oath and Fees) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.
• Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs presented a copy of the Paigham-e-Pakistan adopted and recommended for laying in the Parliament by the Council of Islamic Ideology.
• Five statutory reports were also presented in the House.
• The House witnessed presentation of nine reports of standing committees on as many legislative proposals which were the Protection of Parents Bill, 2021; the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2021; the National Metrology Institute of Pakistan Bill, 2021; the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Section-8); the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021] (Section-2, 8, 9 and 43B); the Islamabad Healthcare Facilities Management Authority Bill, 2021; the Allied Health Professionals Council Bill, 2021; the Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Pakistan Global Institute Bill, 2020.
• The House did not consider six other government bills appearing on the agenda.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The Leader of the Opposition opened the debate on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021 and spoke for 51 minutes. Minister for planning, development and special initiatives responded to the speech of the Opposition Leader and spoke for 29 minutes.
• Eleven lawmakers also participated in debate on the finance bill and spoke for an hour and 50 minutes.
• The House neither took up two calling attention notices nor considered a motion of thanks to the President for his address to both Houses and a motion under Rule 259.

 Order and Institutionalization

• The House was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 11:00 am.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to media and observers.

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